The number of MS medications approved has increased; at the same time, individuals with MS are looking for complementary and alternative medicines. Meditation is one of these alternatives and complementary to our medical treatment. The research shows how meditation benefits MS patients. Mind-body meditation is well known collectively. Since stress is a significant cause of MS, flair-ups meditation would help individuals with MS.
Numerous meditation techniques have been used for thousands of years in the Hindu, Chinese, and other cultures. For centuries, these cultures have used meditation, yoga, qigong, and tai chi for preventive and healing power for well-being.
Here in the western world have been behind on these wonderful preventives, alternatives, and complementary treatments for illness and disease. However, now meditation is used in clinical settings to help improve the lives of individuals with MS. Along with many other diseases; meditation helps millions of individuals with their physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Positive Research Results of Meditation on Health in Many Countries
Research study reports are stacking up with positive results in the US and other countries. Clinical trials using meditation methods for individuals with relapsing MS.
University of Pittsburgh Research Study
Research at the MS Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center followed 23 relapsing MS patients for one year to determine if stress triggers MS exacerbations. 85% of such flair-ups in MS symptoms were related to stress in their lives.
Individuals with MS have elevated cortisol levels. Stress and anxiety in MS patients flood the body with stress hormones from the stress response. However, individuals with MS develop resistance to cortisol. Therefore, they do not benefit from the expected anti-inflammatory effects.
Research shows that meditation relieves biological stress markers and could help slow MS progression.
Swiss Research Study
An eight-week Swiss study explored spiritual well-being in MS patients’ conditions. The study with 150 MS patients reported meditation was especially useful for MS symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
Iranian Research Study
A research study was done in Iran with 56 women with MS who participated in 8 sessions of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MiCBT) for two hours each per day. After the study, those in the treatment group had significantly lower mean depression, anxiety, and stress scores than the control group.
Researchers suggested that MiCBT could be quite an effective, affordable complementary treatment for reducing MS symptoms.
My Personal Experience With Meditation
- Firstly, I am also an individual with MS and have suffered chronic spine pain for 20-plus years, and meditation has changed my life. I learned how stress and anxiety were making me sick. My body was flooded with stress hormones constantly. I was suffering the stresses of life, MS, and anxiety from chronic pain, worry, and fear. I was living a vicious cycle of suffering. No wonder I was constantly sick with MS flair-ups. Stress and anxiety caused more flair-ups, chronic pain caused more stress and anxiety, and I was always in a state of fear of what would happen next.
- Secondly, my physical and mental health has improved by practicing daily yoga. Also, yoga or tai chi can be modified for sitting for individuals who can’t stand. They get our bodies moving. Our bodies become more balanced, building strength, and energies the body. As a result, stress and anxiety are not affecting my MS as they once did.
- Thirdly, I have learned how to handle stress much better, and meditation helps me release it instead of holding on to it in every cell of my body.
- I no longer focus on problems that arise, for I change my focus to finding solutions instead as quickly as possible. I don’t stress over the things I can’t control and focus on what is in my control. As a result, my stress and anxiety became significantly reduced. Therefore, the cortisol levels in my body significantly decreased.
- Cortisol hormones are no longer creating havoc in my body. My last MRI in early 2021 showed that my MS is no longer active. Learning how to handle my thoughts and emotions has been a priceless gift in my life. My mobility has increased dramatically, and I practice yoga daily, which I thought I would never be able to do, especially at this point in my life when I could hardly walk through my home a few years ago.
Spreading the Message
At this point in my life, I want to spread the message to as many people as possible. Applying the positive results meditation has for individuals with MS, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, sleep issues, spiritual well-being, and so much more. With that said, giving others a chance to change their life for the better too.
Therefore, with meditation, my life has changed incredibly with its healing benefits. I became aware of my mind-body-spirit connection with all the healing possibilities through meditation and yoga. As a result, life is good, and I want others suffering from MS, stress, anxiety, pain, or any illness to start living their lives again too. To feel the positive benefits of meditation is priceless. It truly changes you from within, and life feels wonderful again, with the benefits of mind, body, and emotional healing.
Once you experience the positive effects of meditation on your physical and mental well-being, you will make sure it stays in your daily life for life!
Master Your Mind Meditation Course
Don’t let stress and anxiety continue to make you sick. Toxic stress hormone overload running through your blood makes you sick. Instead, learn to be calm and free with meditation. Feel the health benefits in your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Click the Button Below Now! To Your Wellbeing!
Disclosure: Bear in mind that the button links above in this post are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Keep in mind that I link this company and its products because of their quality and the positive impact they have had on thousands of people’s lives, and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is entirely up to you.
More Resources: The Mind-Body Connection, and What is it? https://1111newme.com/2020/12/06/mind-body-connection-for-wellbeing/
Sources:
Iranian Clinical Research: Meditation for MS http://ircmj.com/index.php/IRCMJ
Multiple Sclerosis News Today: Meditation for MS https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/meditation-for-ms/
Namjooyan, F., Ghanavati, R., Majdinasab, N., Jokari, S., & Janbozorgi, M. (2014). Uses of complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 4(3), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.136543