Meditation has been practiced by many people for thousands of years, and the amount of people who practice it continues to grow to this day. The origins of Meditation date back to India during the Vedic times. Many different meditation techniques have developed over time, some used unknowingly in everyday life, and some that prove to be a challenge for many. Science has proven that meditation has several effects on the human mind and body. However, meditation is something that many people struggle with. There happen to be people today who believe that meditation has no real effect, it doesn’t work for them, and that there is only one specific way to meditate. The many misconceptions surrounding meditation can be disproven by the research that proves its usefulness and credibility.

Meditation takes many forms in human life. These include, but are not limited to: Tai Chi, yoga, exercise, focused breathing, reading, aromatherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, prayer, acupuncture, music therapy, and concentration (Barnett 1-28). These methods of meditation are practiced every day by people all over the world. Although they aren’t the traditional/most common method of meditation (sitting with legs folded and eyes closed), the idea of meditation is still applied. Meditation can essentially become whatever the practitioner deems fit for themselves. The reason for this is because there is no specific time, place, or method of meditating. An incredibly common reason for meditating is dealing with stress. Research has proven that practicing meditation can increase physical and cognitive performance.

Many people believe that meditation has no effect on the human body. However, meditation can bring a multitude of benefits to your physical being. According to Paul Verhaeghen’s writings in his book “Your Body and Brain on Meditation”, it can do this by assisting the autonomic system of the body. This is a bodily system that is automatically active, and is responsible for breathing, blinking, and swallowing. There are two subsystems in the autonomic system, which are the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. The former is associated with how we handle high intensity situations, whereas the latter is associated with our relaxation. When one of these systems is active, the other is inactive. This demonstrates that the parasympathetic system has more to do with meditation due to its focus on relaxation. Parasympathetic effects include slowed and synchronized breathing and heart rate, a change in body temperature, as well as “…an increase in galvanic skin resistance, which is a technical term indicating that during meditation you produce less sweat.” When entering a calm and relaxed state in meditation, it is also possible to feel less tired and hungry (Verhaeghen). According to the research of Mihashi Koshin, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and Hiroki Takada, “Science is discovering that self-control is a matter of physiology, not just psychology. It is a temporary state of both mind and body that gives us the strength and calm to override our impulses. Meditation enhances the parasympathetic nerve activity because of the respiration control. It has been shown that the meditation increases the heart rate variability (HRV).” (13.1). In addition to the physical benefits that can assist with stress, meditation can also be used as treatment. Jeffrey Barnett’s writings show that meditation has been used as a form of alternative medicine for many years. Meditation has been used to treat cancer, digestion issues, insomnia, chronic pain and diseases, among many other things. As stated previously, the various forms of meditation play a huge role in this medicinal process. The term for this usage of medication is referred to as CAM, or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Barnett states “The use of CAM and its integration into both daily life and health care are part of a larger movement in the United States (and other Western nations) that focuses on more integrative and holistic care. Many individuals now seek the use of these modalities either instead of or in addition to modern industrialized medicine and are making known these preferences to health care practitioners, resulting in changes in how health care is practiced.” (Paragraphs 1-30). Meditation can certainly be an effective practice in the medical field.

Meditation has just as much to do with the brain as it does the body. Research has shown that meditation reduces stress levels. “Brain Scientists often discuss about the physicality to understand the intelligence.” (Mihashi, Sakamoto, and Takada 13.4). In regard to meditation’s connection to the brain, the author of “Meditation: A Mind-Body Healing Practice” Rachel Crib states “Studies on meditation show that meditating for as little as 10 minutes promotes alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with relaxation and reduce anxiety and depression.” Meditation is an efficient method for reducing stress levels. In addition to stress levels, meditation has been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and anger. It has also been proven to This leads to having a positive mood more frequently and having a more optimistic outlook on certain situations in some instances.

Several studies of meditation’s impact on the human brain are conducted to further research on its usage. These studies are assisted by the use of fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and EEG(Electroencephalography) machines. These machines can observe and display images of the brain’s anatomy and brain waves. According to Paul Verhaeghen’s writings in his book “Your Body and Brain on Meditation”, EEG research looks at delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves, which are in order from slowest to fastest. fMRI research involves finding out which regions of the brain perform which functions. These tools have helped scientists and psychologists discover the effects that meditation has on the brain (Paragraph 24).

Meditation has proven to be an efficient way to improve or heal your mind and body. The misconceptions surrounding it are the product of skepticism and misinformation, and there is proven research on the many benefits that impact the mind and body through meditation. The varieties of meditation make it incredibly accessible to everyone who wishes to practice it. Meditation can greatly benefit you on a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional level. Research and studies on meditation continue to be conducted by scientists and psychologists all over the world. Although meditation is sometimes misconstrued, the research behind it proves that it is still beneficial.

Works Cited

1. Rachel Crib. “Meditation: A Mind-Body Healing Practice.” University Wire 2021: n.page. Print
2. Verhaeghen, Paul. “Your Body and Brain on Meditation.” Presence. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Web.
3. Henderson, Cydney. “Bruce Lee’s Daughter Shares His Philosophies.” USA today(Arlington, Va.) 2020: 07–. Print
4. Mihashi, Koshin, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and Hiroki Takada. “Meditation.” Bio-Information for Hygiene. Singapore: Springer Singapore, 2021. 149–161. Web.
5. Barnett, Jeffrey E et al. “Meditation.” Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Psychologists: An Essential Resource. US: American Psychological Association, 2014. 61–72. Web.

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