Meditation can help during tough times
By Better Health Research News Desk • May 7th, 2009 • Category: Health News, Health Resources News, Stress
With the uncertain economy adding to the stresses of daily life many people reach for drugs and expensive treatments, but there are powerful natural techniques that can help get people through difficult periods.
According to U.S. News and World Report, meditation, which has grown out of ancient spiritual traditions, has been attracting growing numbers of followers in recent years who have praised its effectiveness on calming nerves and improving mood.
There are many specific techniques to choose from, the article says, including mindfulness meditation, transcendental meditation and compassion meditation, and their choice depends on the individual’s needs.
It also points to a growing body of evidence supporting the value of meditation as a health resource. Studies have shown meditation and other relaxation techniques work in cells, turning off genes that are associated with inflammation, cell aging and free radicals.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, some 9.4 percent of adults surveyed in 2007 had tried meditation at least once during the previous 12 months, a significant increase from 7.6 percent in 2002.
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