When Chris Brown used a laser to create repeated pin-pricks of pain in the arms of volunteers, he made a curious discovery. Half the men and women felt the pain was less unpleasant than did the others. And scans of their brains showed that areas that are involved in anticipation were far less active.

The two groups of people were identical, except that those for whom the pain sensation was less unpleasant were all men and women who practised meditation. And the longer they had practised, the lower the sensation.

The research by Dr Brown and pain specialists at Manchester University gives fresh insight into the way that meditation may work to ease symptoms in conditions as diverse as chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

“It seems to work by reducing the anticipation of pain and reducing the negative view of pain, rather than distracting attention away from pain sensation itself,” he says. “When people meditate they focus on their breathing or on other body sensations, and learn how to experience these sensations with attitudes of acceptance, openness and curiosity. This appears to reduce negative thinking about sensations such as pain.”

Meditation’s origins date back thousands of years, and there are many different types, including Samatha, mantra, Zen Buddhist, yoga, Sahaj Marg, and the two that are more widely used in the west, transcendental and mindfulness meditation.

Many of the origins of mindfulness meditation are in Buddhism, and in one of the most widely used forms, users are taught to focus on the sensation of breathing in and out. They are taught to focus attention on what is being experienced in the present, rather than the future or the past. In this way, it’s suggested, meditators learn to experience thoughts and emotions in their everyday life with greater balance and acceptance.

Transcendental meditation has its roots in Hindu traditions, and uses a mantra – words repeated silently – to block distracting thoughts. Its goal is to achieve a state of relaxed awareness.

Hundreds of studies have looked at the effects of meditation on health, and many have found benefits. But it is difficult to carry out gold-standard placebo-controlled trials for meditation therapies. Many studies have simply compared the outcomes in those who had meditation with those who did not, but it is difficult to design trials that control for everything that might contribute to a placebo effect, which is likely to be high in this kind of therapy.

Another way to help validate the effectiveness of the therapy would be to tease out the mechanisms by which it could work, and many researchers are looking at just that. At the Human Pain Research Group, University of Manchester, researchers carried out pain perception tests on 27 men and women, half of whom practised meditation. The volunteers were exposed to flashes of pain from a laser over a five-minute period.

“We found from brain scans that the meditators had less activity in the areas of the brain associated with anticipation. They also had a reduction in the sensation of pain compared to the other people,” says Dr Brown. “We believe that in meditation, focusing attention on breathing, for example, anchors the individual in the present and not the past or the future. When the individual experiences pain, they do not block it out, |but deal with it in a less negative way. In this way, meditation should reduce the emotional evaluation of pain or other stressful events by withdrawing attention away from anticipating their unpleasantness.”

It has also been suggested that meditation might work by affecting the autonomic or involuntary nervous system, which regulates many organs and muscles, controlling functions such as heartbeat, sweating, breathing and digestion. It consists of the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for action and the “fight-or-flight response”, where heart and breathing rates increase and blood vessels narrow, restricting the flow; and the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes the heart and breathing rates to slow, and blood vessels to widen, improving, blood flow. It is thought that meditation may reduce activity in the sympathetic nervous system and increase activity in the para-sympathetic system. More than 50 clinical trials are under way looking at the effects of meditation in various conditions, or at how it may work.

Depression

Mindfulness meditation may rival medication at preventing relapse in people with depression, according to a report in the Harvard Mental Health Letter of a study involving 160 adults who had experienced at least two episodes of major depression. In the first phase of the study, the patients took antidepressants, and after eight months, 53 per cent were in remission and went on the second phase where they either continued with antidepressants at a lower dose, had a placebo pill, or had mindfulness-based therapy. During this period 38 per cent of patients having mindfulness therapy relapsed, compared with 46 per cent on medication, and 60 per cent on placebo.

Irritable bowel syndrome

A study at the State University of New York showed meditation reduced symptoms. Significant reductions were noted for abdominal pain, diarrhoea, flatulence, bloating and pain. “It appears continued use of meditation is particularly effective in reducing the symptoms of pain and bloating; and it is a beneficial treatment for IBS in both the short and the long term,” say researchers.

Obesity

Mindful meditation may help in |losing weight, according to a study at Oregon Research Institute, which involved six weeks of training, focusing on mindfulness meditation, mindful eating, body awareness and triggers to overeating. Results show the obese people had significant decreases in weight, binge eating, depression and stress. “This study provides preliminary evidence that an eating-focused, mindfulness-based intervention can result in significant changes in weight, eating behaviour and psychological distress,” say researchers.

Social anxiety

Mindfulness-based stress reduction could work for social anxiety disorder, according to a study at Stanford University. Brain scanning showed that during breath-focused work there were changes in brain activity. “These changes might facilitate reduction |in social anxiety behaviour, clinical symptoms and emotional reactions to negative self-beliefs,” say researchers.

Pain

Just four days of mindfulness meditation training can reduce pain intensity. In a US study at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, men and women were exposed to experimental pain. Results show that meditating reduced pain unpleasantness by 57 per cent, and pain intensity by 40 per cent.

Chronic diseases

Symptoms in a number of chronic conditions can be improved with mindfulness-based stress reduction. Researchers at La Trobe University in Australia analysed results from 15 studies, which looked at the mental and physical health, wellbeing, and quality of life of people with conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome and cardiovascular conditions. “Participation [in meditation] is likely to result in coping better with symptoms, improved overall wellbeing and quality of life, and enhanced health outcomes,” they say.

Insomnia

Chronic insomnia can be helped by mindful meditation, according to a study at the University of Minnesota. Patients were given mindfulness training over three months. Results show it reduced the time taken to get to sleep by an average of 8.9 minutes and provided evidence for meditation as a viable treatment for chronic insomnia.

Menopausal symptoms

Mind-body therapies can reduce menopausal symptoms, according |to a review of research at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. Eight of the nine studies of yoga, tai chi, and meditation-based programmes showed improvements in overall menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats. |Results also show that breath-based and other relaxation therapies may be effective for alleviating menopausal symptoms, say the researchers.

Multiple sclerosis

Quality of life, and symptoms of depression and fatigue improve after mindfulness training, according to a trial at the University Hospital Basel with 150 patients. Results show that those who had the training – an eight-week programme – saw improvements that were still evident six months later.

To read more from The Independent click here

After trials on the long-term depressed, 47 per cent using the new approach suffered a relapse, compared with 60 per cent for those on anti-depressants.

‘Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy’ helps people focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past or planning the future.

‘While drugs are very effective in helping reduce the symptoms of depression, when people come off them they are particularly vulnerable to relapse,’ said researcher Prof Willem Kuyken.

‘MBCT teaches people skills for life,’ said the expert from Exeter University’s mood disorders centre.

Read more at Metro Online

The stress and pressure we put on our mind and body during this process can often prevent us from conceiving. It is true that stress can cause infertility, but it may not be the only cause; and it may not be the cause of your infertility.

Many women and their partners struggle to grasp why their bodies are unable to house a baby. We follow the advice of our Doctor, often change our diet and map out our most fertile period, like a military operation. We work in unison with our partner to achieve the common goal; to bring a baby into the world.

However no matter how hard we try we still find that all the tools we put into place do not seem to pay off. We find ourselves beginning to question those tools, often getting frustrated with ourselves and our partner. The relationship can often become strained as the overwhelming pressure becomes too much to bear. Infertility can take us through a range of emotions, from hope, to despair, frustration to anger, stress and anxiety and sometimes chronic depression

These emotions breed toxins into our mind and body, preventing us from creating a nurturing environment for a baby. We are often not educated that the process of conceiving is not for one person alone, and better still it is not a “process” but rather a journey. Both parties have to be in the right frame of mind and with a healthy body, in order to successfully take flight in that journey.

Meditation for infertility is about removing the pressure and urgency we put on “getting pregnant” and creating a strong foundation for ourselves first. In order for us to be able to create something as beautiful as a baby, we must first create the right structure to house the baby.

As future parents, we would never want to bring a baby in to the world without ensuring we could provide love, security and a safe haven for our child. In creating a safe, secure and loving environment for ourselves, we are in turn creating a safe, secure and loving home to fertilise an egg. We must begin by nurturing ourselves, going back to the core of our being, and truly understanding who we are.

Taking time to make ourselves truly happy, removing emotional and physical attachment to situations beyond our control, understanding how to best manage our environment and the negative catalysts within it, appreciating those around us, and removing the pressure placed upon having a baby, and the pressure we place on ourselves.

The purpose of Meditation in times of infertility is simply to allow the mind and body to reconnect in a positive way. Meditation allows not only the mind but also the body to release the toxins held. These toxins can prevent a positive environment from being created. Meditation allows you to prepare emotionally for the arrival of a baby; developing the tools within yourself to successfully manage your environment and your emotions.

Meditation is being adopted by many women, and who now tribute Meditation as the reason for successfully conceiving. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen believes passionately in Meditation and credits it with keeping her healthy, especially during her pregnancy with her son. It may even have helped with pain control during her natural water birth. – Telegraph

Meditation is a simple tool which can have a huge positive effect. Teresa Hale Founder of The Hale Clinic in London’s Regents Park has practiced Meditation for over 30 years. She teaches us how to successfully create a positive mental and physical environment within ourselves, through addressing toxic elements past and present and developing a different thought process when dealing with life and the challenges we often face.

Meditation does not change the environment around you; however it does allow you to change yourself in order to better manage your environment.

Meditation alters how you view obstacles, challenges and conflict and allows you to flourish into the person you already where, but never knew you could be.

Along with Meditation, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Acupuncture and Reflexology can also prove beneficial when trying to conceive.

The constant pressure in the media to look a certain way can be completely unattainable. Some of us are not built to be super slim; this can be due to genetics or bone structure.

On the other hand our lifestyles, stress, trauma and anxiety can cause us to over eat. We associate food as comfort, warmth and something that fills a void, and perhaps it does fill the void for that moment; but soon after we eat that “cream cake” we feel guilt and often disgust.

Many of us have established an unhealthy relationship with food, often not even realising or wanting to accept that is has become a repetitive and destructive pattern.

Meditation has been known to help with weigh loss. Through the use of visualisation and meditation, weight loss can be achieved that much easier.

Meditation allows you to feel relaxed, enlighten, and refreshed. It also increases self-awareness. Meditation can help to remove that cloudy feeling we often have, allowing us to really appreciate ourselves and the qualities we possess. In doing so we are less likely to indulge in emotional eating and are able to incorporate non-judgemental eating habits.

In changing how we perceive ourselves, our motivation behind weight loss and our coping mechanisms with everyday situations change. We are far more equipped in moving forward in a healthier way. Meditation brings a sense of clarity and self-assurance that will allow us to take a positive step forward.

Meditation will help you come to the understanding of why you over eat, it will also help you to realise the circumstances surrounding your overeating. You will begin to gain tools in which you can utilise to not want to over eat. Meditation can provide you with a secure sense of self, who simply looks as food for what it is, as oppose to projecting on to food your doubts, insecurities, worries, stress and anxiety.

There are Mudras that can be taught to suppress appetite and energise and enlighten the body and mind. These tools can be utilised anywhere and at any time.

Meditation is taught at The Hale Clinic by Founder Teresa Hale.  Teresa Hale is regarded as one of the world’s leading health visionaries, Teresa has played a major role in the growth of complementary medicine since she launched The Hale Clinic in London’s illustrious Park Crescent, in 1987. Teresa’s interest in Meditation and Yoga is what steered her towards alternative medicine. 30 years on, Teresa Hale still believes strongly in the practice of Meditation and the benefits it can have to all.

Meditation can be applied to a whole range of situations including Health, Creativity, Mental Ability, Reduction of Stress, the Workplace and Scientific Research. Teresa also has a deep interest in the Philosophical and Spiritual aspects of Meditation.

Teresa Hale runs Meditation classes and Workshops with the aim of providing clients with the tools to successfully balance their lives. She has a great understanding and the realistic approach that the chaos around us may not disappear, but with Meditation you can manage them more effectively with a sense of calmness and clarity.

 Teresa has lectured in the US, Italy and the UK. She has also carried out 3 research projects in complementary medicine at Hammersmith Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Exeter University. Following the launch of her book, The Hale Clinic Guide to Good Health, Teresa has received critical acclaim and following in her quest to raise awareness of the benefits of a holistic lifestyle.

The Hale Clinic, 7 Park Crescent, Regents Park, London W1B 1PF. www.haleclinic.com

0207 631 0156

Solomon Ibn Gabriol