Mindful meditation has been shown to be an effective way to reduce pain. This is because it interrupts the communication between the different regions of the brain that are involved in the experience of pain. By learning how to focus attention on one’s breath and bodily sensations, people can train their brains to better deal with pain. Through mindfulness meditation, people may be able to learn how to accept and live with chronic pain.
Mindfulness meditation has been used for centuries to relieve pain, but neuroscientists are only just studying the techniques and analyzing the results. The latest research was carried out by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, which measured the effects of mindfulness on pain perception and brain activity.
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On the first day of the study, 40 participants were given a brain scan while painful heat was applied to their legs. More of these heat stimuli were performed, and all participants were asked to rate their average pain levels during the experiment.
Participants were then separated into two groups. One group was required to complete four separate 20-minute mindfulness training sessions. During these sessions, they were instructed to focus on their breath and process thoughts, sensations, and emotions by letting them go without judgment or reaction. Participants in the control group spend their four hours listening to an audiobook.
On the final day of the study, both groups of participants had their brain activity measured again. However, this time, the mindfulness group was not instructed to medicate during the painful heat, while the control group resisted the pain with their eyes closed.
It was found that participants who were actively meditating saw a 32 percent reduction in pain intensity and a 33 percent reduction in pain unpleasantness. Researchers were able to link specific areas of the brain that had been deactivated or decoupled during meditation to a decrease in pain. For many people struggling with chronic pain, this study offers a new, fast-acting, and non-pharmacological treatment for pain.
Managing Pain
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More and more people are turning to natural ways to help manage pain. Super Pain Relief is a natural formula that uses Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), which has been shown in human clinical studies to help reduce multiple types of pain and inflammation. Another essential ingredient in Super Pain Relief is Quercetin, also known as a powerful inflammation fighter.
This unique combination of natural ingredients will not only help with pain but can also improve mobility and decrease stiffness while maintaining overall health and wellness.
For on-the-go pain relief, turn to Pain Eraser, a topical solution that can temporarily ease pain and discomfort on contact. Its powerful pain-reducing abilities come from camphor, a proven natural pain reliever, and menthol, which helps to provide soothing relief to sore and stiff muscles. This convenient spray provides fast-acting relief, whether at home or on the go.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
