MINDFULNESS CAN EASE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

A new study the results of which have been published in the January 2013 edition of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has shown that mindfulness meditation not only reduces inflammation, it reduces inflammation more effectively than some other behavioural strategies.

The study involved two groups of people who suffered from chronic inflammatory conditions including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma.

One group was given instruction in mindfulness meditation (more specifically, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction [MBSR] program) as a way to reduce stress.

The other group took part in a program of activities that have been shown to reduce stress including physical activities like walking, balance training, agility skills training, core strengthening and music therapy.

Each group was given the same amount of training and engaged in the same amount of home practice.

Each group was then exposed to psychological stress using the Trier Social Stress Test and then apply capsaicin cream to their skin. Capsaicin is the active ingredient of chillies and is known to cause local inflammation. Immune and endocrine measures of inflammation and stress were collected both before and after MBSR training.

Blood tests were then used to measure immune and hormonal markers of inflammation. Interestingly, each group had reduced stress levels by the end of the experiment, but the mindfulness meditation group was shown to have experienced much less inflammation than the other group---despite equivalent levels of stress hormones.

Other studies have already shown that the practice of mindfulness reduces inflammation. What is significant about this most recent study is that it has shown that mindfulness meditation appears to reduce inflammation to a greater degree than other effective behavioural therapies.

Resource: Rosenkranz M A, Davidson R J, Maccoon D G, Sheridan J F, Kalin N H, and Lutz A. ‘A comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and an active control in modulation of neurogenic inflammation.’ Brain Behav Immun. 2013 Jan;27(1):174-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.10.013. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

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MINDFULNESS COMBATS LONELINESS AND BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM

The American comedian and writer Groucho Marx (pictured left) said it all in an interview in 1970—after three failed marriages:

'I've tried being single. It doesn't work. You sit at a table alone, eating.'

Well, Groucho, a new study has found that mindfulness meditation can help older adults battle feelings of loneliness while also boosting health.

The study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, has shown that 8 weeks of training in mindfulness meditation (a total of 2.5 hours a week) is linked with decreased loneliness.

The study included 40 participants aged between 55 and 85, some of whom participated in the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training program.

‘We always tell people to quit smoking for health reasons, but rarely do we think about loneliness in the same way,’ said study lead J David Creswell (pictured right). ‘We know that loneliness is a major risk factor for health problems and mortality in older adults,’ Creswell said, adding that the research suggests that mindfulness meditation training could be ‘a promising intervention for improving the health of older adults.’

Using blood samples collected, the researchers also found that the older adult sample had elevated pro-inflammatory gene expression in their immune cells at the beginning of the study and that the MBSR reduced this pro-inflammatory gene expression, which the researchers said could ‘reduce older adults' inflammatory disease risk.’

Resource: Creswell, JD, Irwin, MR, Burklund, LJ, Lieberman, MD, Arevalo, J, Ma, J, Breen, E, & Cole, S. ‘Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial.’ Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Available online 20 July 2012.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: See the Terms of Use and Disclaimer. The information provided on this blogspot is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your medical practitioner or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on this blogspot. For immediate advice or support call Lifeline on 13 1 1 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. For information, advice and referral on mental illness contact the SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263) go online via sane.org