Meditation Techniques Effective For Pain Relief

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Meditation Techniques Effective For Pain Relief

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182281.php

Meditation has analgesic benefits associated with creating a relaxed state of

mind and enhancing the ability to moderate reactions to pain, according to new

research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the

American Pain Society.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina measured pain ratings in

students interested in learning meditation who recruited for the study. Subjects

were trained in meditation for three consecutive days and were given

experimental pain stimuli.

Results of the trial showed that relaxed states promoted by the brief

mindfulness meditation sessions reduced the reported pain ratings. Participants

had less pain to both low and high pain intensities and showed significant

reductions in anxiety after each meditation stimulation. The authors concluded

that decreases in anxiety and increases in the ability to sustain personal focus

can attenuate the feeling of pain.

In assessing their findings, the authors noted that the analgesic effects of

meditation can be realized even after a short period of time learning the

technique. Also, the results provide additional validation of the benefits of

cognitive techniques for controlling pain.

Source

American Pain Society