Answer to Question 1
The relaxed state induced by meditation is characterized by significant physiological changes, including changes in brain activity. More specifically, alpha waves (slow, low-amplitude brain waves associated with a low-stress, resting state) become more frequent and intense. Meditation shifts brain activity from the left hemisphere to the more intuitive right hemisphere and allows both hemispheres to work together in unison. The altered state induced by meditation effectively cancels out the stress response by slowing body and mind.
Answer to Question 2
Mindfulness is particularly helpful in reducing stress, which can occur only when we allow our minds to think or worry about things beyond what is happening in our current experience. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been shown in well-controlled studies to yield small to moderate improvements in anxiety, depression, pain, feelings of stress/distress, and health-related quality of life. Among the other positive physical effects of mindfulness are: lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol; enhanced immunity; relief of chronic pain; relief of symptoms of fibromyalgia, cancer, and other illnesses; relief of digestive disorders such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel disorder; help in smoking cessation.
PET scan of a normal brain.
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