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Beating Stress: Medication or Meditation?

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Although we live in relatively peaceful times, in a land of plenty and in an age of gadgets and gizmos supposed to make life easier, the modern plague of our generation is stress. It seems that even money does not buy us exemption from modern-day pressures as multi-millionaire celebrities and those living on trust funds still seem to feel the need for pills, alcohol and analysts to help them through the week.

The newest (and also the oldest) answer to beating stress is meditation. It is something that costs little, can be done anywhere and does not take up too much time, yet recent studies are showing this to be the answer to many everyday health issues and worries.

Studies conducted at the Charles Drew University in Los Angeles and the University of Hawaii in Kohala focused on African Americans and Native Hawaiians who were at risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients were divided into two groups. One group followed a Transcendental Meditation program while the other group followed more conventional health education. They were then assessed with standard tests for depression over 9-12 months. The participants who practiced Transcendental Meditation showed an average reduction in depressive symptoms of 48%.

These results are particularly relevant as over 18 million Americans suffer from depression which has been shown to be a major factor for cardiovascular disease. Any technique which does not rely on drugs or psychotherapy is particularly welcomed. These studies have important implications for improving medical health whilst reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The basic principles of meditation, normally learned under instruction from a religious guru or practicing teacher, are becoming aware of your breathing and setting aside all other thoughts to bring a sense of profound relaxation. Finding calm and bringing clarity are the two effects which meditation brings to the mind, allowing those practicing it to be more focused and creative, and less stressed in the process.

The word meditation actually comes from the Indian Sanskrit word meaning “mind training” which is reported to give those who practice this concept deeper insight and a sense of peace. Continuing to meditate for at least 10 minutes per day ultimately brings about a change of perception, about yourself and others, which can ultimately change attitudes, relationships and communications with others.

Meditation was popularized back in the Sixties when the Beatles embraced the ancient discipline. Respected research over the last 20 years has shown that meditation, whether part of a spiritual religion or not, has a range of health benefits. It improves psychological and biological functions such as blood pressure, sleep patterns and serotonin levels (a natural neurotransmitting chemical closely related to our mood), appetite, sleep and memory.

The positive evidence led to meditation being approved for use in 2007 in independent healthcare provided by the British National Health Service. Physicians (GPs) are now referring patients with depression, eating disorders and addictions to private gurus rather than writing a prescription for medication.

In these worrying times, this reasonably cheap scientifically proven concept, which comes without any harmful side effects, seems to be the perfect self-help treatment for these tough and stressful times.