How Meditation Solves Some Health Problems

We're living in jet age or space age, where one is always in a hurry, tensed, at times doesn't even have time to eat their meals on time ! In earlier times, we're lucky, I'ld say, as we had less gadgets, more time to socialise, be with family, eat healthy meals and fewer diseases. Above all, we're more religious, taking part in daily poojas / prayers at home and during festive days. Now, with nuclear families, where family ties have reduced, man hardly finds time to eat, leave alone meditate or visit any religious place. 

What is meditation? “Meditation is listening to the Divine within.” - Edgar Cayce
Another wonderful quote- 
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” ― Bruce Lee

Some  studies were based on different types of meditation, and having some effects, such as increased compassion and social bonding, are more salient as a result of specific meditation techniques. However, my understanding and from personal experience is that any kind of authentic meditation will include most of these benefits, in one degree or another. There is also evidence that the practice will be more beneficial for you if you find a technique that you like better.

Understanding Meditation
Meditation is a type of mind-body medicine. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation in mind. The act has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, meditation is practiced for stress reduction and relaxation.
During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of perplexed thoughts that may be causing stress in your mind. This practice may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Some Benefits Of Meditation-

1) Mindfulness practices decreases depression

In a study conducted at five middle schools  involving about 400 students, a researcher concludes that “students who follow an in-class mindfulness program report reduced indications of depression, anxiety and stress up to six months later. Moreover, these students were less likely to develop pronounced depression-like symptoms.”
Another study, made with patients with past depression, concluded that mindfulness meditation decreases ruminative thinking and dysfunctional beliefs.
Yet another concludes that mindfulness meditation may be effective to treat depression to a similar degree as antidepressant drug therapy”.

Meditation helps treat depression in mothers to be

High-risk pregnant women who participated in a ten-week mindfulness yoga training saw significant reductions in depressive symptoms, according to a  pilot feasibility study. The mothers-to-be also showed more intense bonding to their babies in the womb. 

2) Meditation reduces stress.
Meditation is mind without agitation,”. Stress creates agitation and is something most of us deal with on some level. And it’s increasing, given the rising use of anti-anxiety medications, notes a  researcher. Meditation allows people to take charge of their own nervous system and emotions. “Studies have shown improved ability to permanently regulate emotions in the brain,” adds a researcher. “It’s very empowering.”  

3)Improves heart and muscle functioning:  
When an individual is anxious or tensed, there is a release of cortisol and lactic acid which increases the levels of stress. The metabolism of the body is affected by these secretions. Cortisol is almost like a semi hormone that is vital for controlling metabolism. Meditation decreases the release of these chemicals and hence increase the functionality of heart and muscles.


4) Calms your mind:  
Meditation helps you to concentrate your focus on a single perception or experience, a no-thought stage, which is often detoxifying for the mind to unleash into an absolute state of rest. This is essential as it enables the body and mind to synchronize together to unravel and unwind. This state calms you from within, helps you to think about whatever problem is bothering you from a deeper elemental level and to a rational out the stretch. Your analytical perspective broadens and decisions made after that can never be wrong as it is propelled by a mature heart and a settled brain. It enriches you spiritually.

5)Mood booster:  
Meditation helps combat depression or mood swings as it helps secretion of serotonin that enhances our mood and thus works as an activity that elevates our mood. It is extremely beneficial for women to tackle Pre-Menstrual Syndrome and Menopausal mood swings.
  
6)Improves healing and cognition:  
According to extensive studies in human development and neuroscience, meditation has been proven to have clear effects on human brain and thus improve the wholesome functionality of the body. Also, it maneuvers our logical and cognitive skills. It is beneficial both mentally and physically by stimulating the brain to generate waves that bring it to the alpha state. This condition of the mind allows cell healing. 

7) Other health benefits: Meditation helps you to reduce high blood pressure, elevated levels of blood lactate, and lessen panic attacks. It reduces any pain related to tension like ulcers, headaches, muscle, and insomnia. It also improves the immune system increasing your energy levels as well.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    
 
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Pap Smear New guidelines

It was a gleeful moment when, 2 years ago, enough research piled up for doctors to say- you’re over 30, your last 3 tests were fine, skip next year & stick with every 2 years as long as your tests are fine.

News Flash- every 2 years could become 3. proposed new guidelines say- get your first Pap at 21, if it’s fine, repeat every 3 years as long as they’re okay. At 65, discuss stopping with your doctor.

The recent studies found no evidence that testing every year or two is better than every 3. It decreases costs,   stomach knots & cold feet- not cancer detection.

The testing is being upgraded. 2 tests will be run on the cervix cells- the Pap + one for HPV ( Human papilloma Virus), a major culprit in cervical cancer.

Important- get vaccinated for HPV ! it radically decreases cervical cancer. It is thought that the HPV test may be even better than the pap.

There are exceptions- women who smoke, have AIDS, have had abnormal Paps or were exposed to DES in-utero need more tests. But others can grin.

Don’t get a Pap test if you’ve had total hysterectomy. The surgery removed your cervix. Paps look for abnormal cervix cells. No cervix, no point

Witch hazel aids healing & reduces inflammation

Witch hazel is a good remedy for - External sores, pimples, aftershave treatments, poison ivy, varicose veins, eczema, mosquito bites and ingrown nails. Its   strong antioxidant and astringent properties aid healing and reduce inflammation, Rubman says. 

To use it: First, clean the area with mild soap, rinse well and pat dry. Then apply witch hazel with a cotton ball or put it on a bandage before sealing it over the scrape or skin irritation. 

caution- Don’t ingest it – witch hazel is a topical remedy only.