Could the path to health be in the power of our minds?

Have you ever wondered if using your mind more could improve your health? The simple answer is yes, it can. Mind-body practices can deliver a range of evidence- based benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing; plus they’re accessible, easy-to-do, and enjoyable.

Meditation is one of the mind-body practices that focus on the connections between our brain, mind, and body. It has a long history of use for increasing calmness, relaxation, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being.

One of the major arguments for incorporating meditation into daily life is that it combats psychological strain and has been shown to reduce stress and its associated issues. Chronic stress is common and can lead to a raft of physical issues, such as increased inflammation and susceptibility to viral infection.

A number of studies on the effects of meditation have noted many other benefits. These include: a reduced risk of
inflammation-related diseases, reduced fatigue, improved sleep, and fewer depressive symptoms. That’s not surprising given that studies suggest that regular meditation can affect the part of the brain involved in processing emotions. Activity in the regions of the brain connected with anxiety and stress diminishes, and the areas associated with ease and clarity expand. Positive mood and a sense of peace grow. The world feels easier to navigate.

Meditation has benefits for easing pain, too. Whether acute or chronic, mild or severe, pain can impact strongly on day to day living. Pain is common, and sadly, so are problems like addiction as people search for ways to cope. Meditation has been shown to help control both short and long-term pain.

​Meditation, then, can offer a simple way to calm mental tension, improve physical and psychological wellbeing and quell pain. The benefits are potentially profound. Talk to your chiropractor about how you can incorporate mind-body practices into your life.