What is the Role of Meditation in Mesothelioma Treatment? By Bello Kamorudeen At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Meditation is a mind-body process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind. It has been defined as the intentional self-regulation of attention, a mental focus on a particular aspect of one’s inner or outer experience.

Meditation is one of several relaxation methods evaluated and found to be of possible benefit to people living with cancer it might be a useful complementary therapy for treating chronic pain and sleeping problems such as insomnia that are sometimes associated with mesothelioma cancer .

Some mesothelioma cancer treatment centers offer meditation or relaxation therapy with standard medical care. Available scientific evidence does not suggest that meditation is effective in treating mesothelioma or any other disease however, it has however been found to improve the quality of life of people with mesothelioma cancer.

It has been recorded that regular meditation can reduce chronic pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, cholesterol, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder , and blood cortisol levels that are increased by stress (sometimes called "stress hormones").

Practitioners also claim meditation improves mood, immune function, and fertility. Supporters further claim meditation increases mental efficiency and alertness and raises self-awareness, all of which contribute to relaxation.

There are different forms of meditation. Meditation may be done while sitting, but there are also moving forms of meditation, like tai chi, qigong, walking, and the Japanese martial art aikido. One commonly practiced type is Transcendental Meditation, which involves repeating a word or phrase, called a mantra, either silently or aloud. Another is mindfulness meditation, in which a person observes sensations, perceptions, and thoughts without judgment as they arise. There are other types of meditation that focus one's attention through walking or visualizing.

Meditations that focus on words or images and do not strive for a state of thoughtless awareness are sometimes called quasimeditative. Meditation can be self-directed, or guided by doctors, psychiatrists, other mental health professionals, or yoga masters. It can also be guided by masters from different schools of meditation (for example, Zen meditation, Tibetan meditation, Transcendental Meditation), as well as those from tai chi and martial arts.

Meditation may be done by choosing a quiet place free from distraction, sitting or resting quietly with eyes closed, noticing one's breathing and physical sensations, and letting go of all intruding thoughts. The person may also achieve a relaxed yet alert state by focusing on a pleasant idea or thought, or by chanting a phrase or special sound silently or aloud. The ultimate goal of meditation is to separate oneself mentally from the outside world by suspending the usual stream of consciousness. Some practitioners recommend two sessions of fifteen to twenty minutes a day.

In the last twenty years, meditation has been studied in clinical trials as a way of reducing stress on both the mind and body. Research shows that meditation can help reduce anxiety, stress, blood pressure, chronic pain, and insomnia.

Studies of mindfulness meditation found that it seemed to help with symptoms of anxiety.

Studies have shown that meditation reduces the symptoms of stress and emotional disturbance in mesothelioma patients. Some studies have also suggested that more meditation improves the chance of a positive outcome for the cancer patients.

Complications are rare, however, a small number of people who meditate have become disoriented or anxious and experienced some negative feelings. People with certain types of mental illness may be more likely to have these responses. You should talk with their doctors before starting any type of meditation that involves movement of joints and muscles, such as qigong or martial arts.

In conclusion, even if you decide to start meditation you should not abandon your conventional medical care for mesothelioma cancer as this might lead to bad outcome for you.

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