Yoga and Meditation Heal Chronic Pain and Depression
A new holistic approach might be a perfect non-pharmaceutical treatment for patients seeking relief from chronic pain.
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course that consists of mindfulness meditation and hatha yoga, was found very effective for improving perceptions of pain, mood, and functional capacity in patients with chronic pain.
As much as 89% of participants said this eight-week course helped them better deal with their pain.
Chronic pain is a consequential medical condition that, in most cases, may never fully be cured. “However, mindful yoga and meditation can help improve the structure and function of the body, which supports the process of healing,” said an osteopathic physician Cynthia Marske.
In some patients, MBSR was as effective in restoring mental health as using antidepressants.
“Chronic pain often goes hand-in-hand with depression,” says Dr. Marske. “Mindfulness-based meditation and yoga can help restore both a patient’s mental and physical health and can be effective alone or in combination with other treatments such as therapy and medication.”
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