I know that most people are not lovers of physical pain. If someone invented a patch to keep the wearer from feeling pain, this inventor would become an instant billionaire.
But it appears that there already is something better than a patch: Zen meditation.
In an earlier study, Montreal University researchers from the lab of Pierre Rainville, PhD showed that meditators experienced an 18% reduction in pain sensitivity compared to their non-meditating counterparts.
Building on this earlier study, researchers have found that Zen meditation can decrease sensitivity to pain by thickening brain matter.
They measured thermal pain sensitivity of 17 seasoned meditators and compared them to that of 18 people who haven’t practiced any form of meditation or yoga.
They placed a heated plate (ouch) on the calf of participants and used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to conduct brain scans.
The results?
Meditators had significantly thicker anterior cingulate, a region of the brain known for pain and emotion regulation. And with this thickening of the brain, pain sensitivity was affected.
If you’re interested in the entire study, you can find it in a special edition of the American Psychological Association’s Journal Emotion.
How does meditation thicken the brain? The article doesn’t tell you that. But I may be able to shine some light on the subject…
I thought the results of this study were fascinating.
To find out more about the brain science, click here.
Come join us.
First of all, you don’t have to apologize for what you believe in. 🙂 I’m not at all surprised that you have guardian angels, or, spirit guides. I do too. We all do, but those who do not share in these beliefs will never come to know or ‘see’ theirs. It has nothing to do with religion of any kind. I do not share your beliefs in a christian god though, those beliefs belong to you, respectfully.. . I do believe in a higher intelligence of ‘some kind’ just not the biblical kind, speaking from my own experience. I receive my messages in very vivid dreams, or, right before I wake up I will see something written in my mind’s eye or hear something. I’m not psychic, but from time to time I receive messages about future events or circumstances that are happening in my life now that do come true. I have also heard from my relatives that have passed on. Removing all doubt about the spirit realm.. . Also, being very careful with regards to what you are listening to or being told. Be sure you hold on to your heart and mind and lovingly guard and protect them at all times. Always use discretion, no matter how much you trust your guides, making sure nothing else, of a negative nature, sneeks in.
Wow! I think this could have amazing potential in working with depressed patients suffering from chronic pain! So many times these patients (already depressed as a result of their pain) find themselves resorting to the use of more and more prescription meds (usually opiates) in an attempt to control the pain. The resulting opiate dependence then deepens their depression even further. Now let’s see some research on implementing the use of meditation in counseling patients with chronic pain to see if the results warrant updating “best practices” in this counseling area.