Stress and Histamine Part 4

MeditationMeditation – a powerful stress-reliever

It’s well-known that meditation is a powerful stress-reliever. It produces measurable biochemical and physiological changes which can be of great benefit to those who suffer from histamine intolerance. Countless scientific studies continue to provide evidence for its usefulness. For example a 1991 study found that after practicing Buddhist meditation, the cortisol levels, blood pressure and heart rate of 52 young men were significantly reduced.
[Sudsuang R, et al]

“… repeated practice of the Transcendental meditation (TM) technique reverses effects of chronic stress significant for health,” reported researchers who conducted a study in 1997. [MacLean CR, et al]

Science has shown that regular meditation can actually produce physical changes in the brain.

Types of meditation include Transcendental, Kundalini,  Guided Visualization, Vipassana, Qigong Mindfulness and Zazen (Zen).
It doesn’t matter what form of meditation you practice, as long as you do it regularly.

Meditation can be as simple as sitting or lying down comfortably in a quiet place, closing your eyes and breathing naturally. Concentrate on the gentle rhythm of your breathing, while allowing your thoughts to come and go without dwelling on any of them. Just let them flit in and out of your mind like butterflies in a garden.
Guided meditation tracks are available for free online, or you might be able to find a local meditation group.


References:

[Sudsuang R, Chentanez V, Veluvan K. Physiol Behav. 1991 Sep;50(3):543-8. Effect of Buddhist meditation on serum cortisol and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume and reaction time. ]

[MacLean CR, Walton KG, Wenneberg SR, Levitsky DK, Mandarino JP, Waziri R, Hillis SL, Schneider RH Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1997 May;22(4):277-95. Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on adaptive mechanisms: changes in hormone levels and responses to stress after 4 months of practice. ]