Meditation and tai chi don’t just calm the mind – they seem to affect our DNA too. There’s evidence that such “mind-body practices” dampen the activity of genes associated with inflammation – essentially reversing molecular damage caused by stress.
Mind-body practices such as mindfulness meditation are widely claimed to protect against stress-related diseases from arthritis to dementia. But although there’s plenty of evidence that they can relieve stress, the scientific case for physical health benefits has not yet been proven.
Recent advances mean it’s now easier to study patterns of gene activity inside cells, and there has been growing interest in using this approach to investigate how nurturing inner peace might influence the immune system and disease risk.
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Inflammation is the body’s first line of defense against infection and injury, but it can damage the body if switched on long term.
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But the results of the analysis suggest mind-body interventions might help reduce the risk for inflammation-related disorders, says [Ivana Buric, a psychologist at the Coventry University’s Brain, Belief and Behaviour lab]. “And not just psychological ones, but even the physical ones like asthma or arthritis.”
[Read the full study here]
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