Meditation in Healthcare: Reducing Stress and Boosting Immunity

Introduction

Meditation, placed in proper context, is one of many different methods of establishing self-control over multiple systems within our bodies and minds. By itself, meditation continues to be regarded with skepticism by much of the Western medical world, but that impression is shifting as more and more evidence regarding its efficacy emerges. One of the most confounding problems of modern medicine is the patient's mental state — patients with a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook tend to heal faster and more fully than those given over to pessimism. How could "attitude" have any effect upon the function of your cells? How could blood flow and the immune system be related to a mental or emotional state? While science has not yet provided specific answers to these questions, proponents of transcendental and mindfulness meditation have achieved an understanding of how to improve the mental state so that healing may be enhanced. It is the purpose of this paper to explore the nature of transcendental and mindfulness meditation, how each affects overall health, and how such practices can be integrated into modern medical practice.

Transcendental and Mindfulness Meditation Defined

Transcendental meditation is the creation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a native of India who broke from traditional Vedic teaching in 1955 to create this particular form. The practice takes its name from the idea that a person can achieve a higher state of being through chanting and entering into a trance-like state, followed by post-trance suggestion. Western culture became aware of transcendental meditation in the late 1960s when the Beatles took up the practice.

"In the 1960s and 70s the Indian Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized a mantra system known as Transcendental Meditation. Meditation is now used by many nonreligious adherents as a method of stress reduction; it is known to lessen levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. The practice has been shown to enhance recuperation and improve the body's resistance to disease" (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2008). As has been the case more recently with other socio-religious-cultural movements — such as Scientology and Kabbalism, where a large body of people took up the practice because a celebrity endorsed it — transcendental meditation became marginalized on two counts: it was immediately seen as a trapping of the counter-culture, and it was promoted by non-medical practitioners who made medical and psychological claims regarding its benefits.

Mindfulness meditation is similar to transcendental meditation but differs significantly in the activity of the mind during the trance state. Mindfulness requires focusing on a particular aspect of a problem, life issue, or concern, and thinking about it actively during the trance state. This approach seeks to block out all other distractions; in effect, thinking about the problem you wish to resolve serves as the rough equivalent of a mantra. Regardless, both practices work well and are relatively similar in acceptability among patients.

The serious practitioner begins transcendental meditation with a consultation with a highly skilled guide or teacher. This person discusses the goals of the meditation with the practitioner — such as combating depression, alleviating particular medical conditions, or achieving a deeper sense of well-being. Regardless of the ultimate goal, the instructor helps the practitioner find a "mantra" to use as a method of chanting oneself into the trance-like state necessary to achieve the benefit of meditation — a state of wakefulness with no active higher brain function that allows the body to heal in a different manner than it does during sleep. Two twenty-minute periods per day are the standard regimen, requiring that one retire to a quiet and contemplative place.

"The Transcendental Meditation technique allows your mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought — pure awareness, also known as transcendental consciousness. This is the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness — your innermost Self. In this state of restful alertness, your brain functions with significantly greater coherence and your body gains deep rest" (Maharishi University of Management, 2008). These are the claims of the proponents of transcendental meditation, and they are in part backed up by scientific study. What can be clinically observed in those who engage in a course of transcendental meditation is a lowered heart rate, a reduction in overall reported stress levels, and a short-term lowering of blood pressure. Claims regarding "higher states of consciousness" or a deeper connection with the soul or God have not been clinically observed and, like many quasi-religious elements attached to fringe treatments, are best left outside the medical discussion.

The Impact of Stress on the Human Body

Before examining the challenges to the efficacy of meditation within a medical setting, it is important to understand how significant mental state is to the overall healthy function of the human body. Research has found that stress has significant negative effects on the body: lowered immune system functionality, increased blood pressure, higher intracranial pressure, higher incidences of headache, body pain, stomach pain, and greater incidences of stress-related self-medication (USA Today, 2004). Stress can cause the body to slow particular functions, reduce motor coordination, impair the gastric system, and reduce fertility (Whorwell, Houghton, Taylor, & Maxton, 2005). Significant negative effects on mental stability, marital relations, and an overall increase in violent thoughts and behavior have also been observed (Whorwell, Houghton, Taylor, & Maxton, 2005).

"Unmanaged chronic stress can have deleterious effects on the physical and psychological health of individuals. Stress may lead to or worsen disorders and diseases such as heart disease, anxiety, depression, hypertension, substance abuse, and gastrointestinal disorders. It is a contributing factor to lifestyle behaviors that increase vulnerability to diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, and it has an impact on absenteeism rates and job performance, effectiveness, and satisfaction" (Schure, 2008).

Regarding mental health specifically, meditation has been observed to increase emotional forgiveness of faults in others, as found in a study of college students: "Our study appears to be one of the first to investigate the impacts of an intervention on either forgiveness or rumination in college populations. Findings of increased forgiveness and reduced rumination are encouraging and suggest that meditation training might foster positive relationships at a time of crucial developmental changes" (Oman, Shapiro, Thoresen, Plante, & Flinders, 2008).

Conclusion

What we have demonstrated is that stress deteriorates disease progression, that if stress is removed from the equation healing is faster, that a positive attitude can improve overall mental health, and that meditation can improve not only attitude but can directly reduce stress. Therefore, meditation has a positive effect on stress and is beneficial within an overall treatment plan. As the evidence base grows, integrating transcendental and mindfulness meditation into mainstream medical practice represents a responsible and patient-centered step forward — one that complements conventional treatment rather than replacing it.

Works Cited

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