While sailing through the midst of a pandemic, immunity can be rightly mentioned as one of the most favorite topics of discussion or debate.
Different ways of boosting one’s immunity are being tried and tested in order to protect oneself from various deadly microorganisms. It is quite natural to doubt the effectiveness of each of these ways and select the one that suits you the best and has, practically, no side effects.
Most of us know that nutritional supplements or a diet with restricted junk food can help us improve our immunity.
But mindful meditation for strong immune system- is that for real?
What Science Reveals About the Meditation - Immune System Connection?
Our immune system is also known as “a floating brain” owing to the ability of the immune cells to facilitate the transfer of chemical messages triggered by the brain throughout our body.
Simply put, our mood swings, thoughts or sensations can have a positive or negative impact on our immunity. Here are a few findings that enlighten us on the role of meditation on immunity-
a). A study conducted by Richard Davidson, University of Wisconsin Madison, was aimed at investigating the alterations in the brain and immune functions produced by mindfulness meditation. Those who had practiced mindful meditation for a period of eight weeks showed higher levels of antibodies and a greater tendency to stay protected from illnesses when compared to the control group.
b). In another study on 50 HIV-positive men, the researchers reported that a meditation session of half an hour to forty-five minutes could slow down the fall in the count of CD4 cells, thereby promoting a healthier immune system.
c) Research suggests that meditation can enhance telomerase activity. Telomeres protect our chromosomes from deterioration. When telomeres shorten, we become more susceptible to premature aging and life-threatening illnesses like cancer. Telomerase is the enzyme that slackens the shortening of telomeres. Therefore, an increased telomerase activity assures a robust immune system.
What Are The Benefits of Meditation on Immunity
Not only does mindful meditation enhance your immune function, it can reduce your blood pressure and improve cognitive function as well. The primary focus behind mindful meditation is to calm you down so that you can pay deeper attention to the present moment without any attempt of judgement. The main effects of mindful meditation have been identified as-
- Self-awareness
- Improved regulation of emotions
- Stress reduction
- Enhanced focus
All the above-mentioned effects culminate in physical rejuvenation and inner healing. Hence, the benefits of meditation are-
- Enhanced heart function
- Improvement in working memory
- Increased levels of antibodies.
- Slowed down process of cell ageing
All these positive outcomes help your immunity to get actively involved in the fortification of your defenses.
In A Nutshell
Though there are many possible mechanisms under scrutiny, the exact mechanism of how mindful meditation helps boost our immunity still needs to be understood. While our researches work on gathering more information regarding the deep connection between our immunity and mindful meditation, we can make use of the existing evidence and practice meditation to foster wellness and enhance our immune system.
Great post
Great article!
Thanks!