Health Applications and Clinical Studies of Meditation

A review of scientific studies identified the behavioral components of meditation as:

• Relaxation.
• Concentration.
• Altered state of awareness.
• Suspension of logical thought.
• Maintenance of a self-observing attitude.

It is accompanied by a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body that affect:

• Metabolism
• Heart rate
• Respiration
• Blood pressure
• Brain chemistry

Meditation has been used in clinical settings as a method of stress and pain reduction. Meditation has also been studied specifically for its effects on stress.