Yoga meditation: A path to holistic health and healing

Abstract

The word meditation is derived from a Latin word ‘madri’ which means “to heal”. Meditation can certainly be considered as a great healing process - spiritual, mental, and emotional - with proven benefits to physical well-being. In the current communication, an attempt has been made to explain some of these benefits and provide science based evidence to explain them. Meditation develops our ability to maintain inner peace at all times in our actions and thereby achieve the best physical and mental health. With psychosomatic ailments, meditation provides the vital element that modern therapies lack. During Yogic breathing, some of the oxygen generates •OH free radicals according to the Haber Weiss process, which immediately react with glucose molecules to oxidize them. Some of these oxidation products are very useful, such as gluconic acid, which removes some undesirable metals from the body. Additionally, glucuronic acid is another product, and it is part of the natural detoxification process found in the body. It removes harmful toxins and is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Another product, D-glucarate, has been shown to decrease lung, skin, liver, breast, and colon cancers by 60%. The product Calcium-D-glucarate lowers cholesterol by 12%, LDL by 28%, and triglycerides by 43%. Lastly, D-glucono 1,4 lactone, with further reactions with •OH, is converted to D-glucaro 1,4 lactone and is a powerful liver detoxifier. Meditation boosts intelligence, IQ score, and increases the gray matter of the brain. The relaxation response decreases breathing rate and oxygen consumption by 20%. It lowers heart rate and brings blood pressure to normal levels. During meditation alpha waves of the brain are generated. This brings relaxation and serenity of mind, helping people to better cope with stress. According to the British Heart Foundation, 15 minutes of meditation a day can reduce the risk of death, heart attack and stroke by 48%. According to Dr. Dean Ornish, meditation can help in reversing heart disease. Meditation has the power to change our negativity of mind and reshape our thoughts into a more positive direction to improve our mental well-being.