Previous research has shown that meditation techniques can be effective in helping reduce the practitioner's perception of pain, as well as in alleviating any anxiety they may feel in anticipation of discomfort.
A team of scientists at the Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology conducted a study revealing that people with neurotic tendencies – or those who are likely to experience more negative emotions than positive – react more severely to pain and anticipation of distress than people who are emotionally stable.
"Patients who have high expectations of pain may have a harder time coping with the actual source of pain, as is often seen in patients with irritable bowel syndrome," said lead author Steven Coen, PhD. "Our study shows a patient's state of mind should be noted by their physician and taken into account when determining treatment regimens – both behavioral and pharmacologic."
Authors of the study examined volunteers with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that has been linked to psychosocial stress. The researchers noted that, in general, neurotic people are more likely to develop conditions that cause chronic pain.
Considering that meditation exercises may be effective at both improving one's ability to think positively and manage pain symptoms, the results of this study suggest that the mind-body practice could be especially helpful to individuals with IBS and other chronic pain conditions.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that non-pharmaceutical routes to wellness are always preferable to those that rely on man-made drugs and invasive procedures. As such, people who wish to lead healthier, happier lives may want to discuss with their healthcare providers alternative medicine to help alleviate illnesses.
