Recently, a study suggested that people who meditate regularly may experience a stronger connection between different regions of the brain, and as they age, their brains may shrink less than those who do not practice peace and serenity meditation.
Meditation has been one of the more widely accepted holistic healing methods for some time. Recently, a study suggested that people who meditate regularly may experience a stronger connection between different regions of the brain, and as they age, their brains may shrink less than those who do not practice peace and serenity meditation.
The study was a follow-up to one conducted two years ago at UCLA, which discovered that those who meditate regularly have larger brains with a greater amount of gray matter.
Researcher Eileen Luders released a statement explaining some of the findings.
"Our results suggest that long-term meditators have white-matter fibers that are either more numerous, more dense or more insulated throughout the brain," Luders said. "We also found that the normal age-related decline of white-matter tissue is considerably reduced in active meditation practitioners."
The benefits of meditation were not limited to one area of their brain, either. Rather, results showed changes in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, the anterior corpus callosum, limbic structures and the brain stem.
Although more research needs to be done to confirm the findings, Luders sounds confident that mediation is beneficial and could lead to more holistic healing methods being developed. She mentions that meditation appears to be a powerful mental exercise. The study observed 27 regular meditation practitioners, and across the board saw positive results.
The Mayo Clinic recommends taking time out of the day to meditate, even if only for a few minutes, to relive the stress caused by daily life.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in meditation to benefit the body. He also believes in the power of holistic healing methods.
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