My natural medication is "Meditation"!

Hello Kind Mindful Steemians!

This week @naturalmedicine posed a question "Do you have a natural medicine story to tell? Come closer - we're listening!"

Often when we talk about medicines/medications, "Evidence" and science behind it come to the fore. And in terms of the evidence hierarchy, randomized controlled trials, systematic review and meta-analysis of those trials are considered gold standard or top of the evidence hierarchy.
Source

Of course, there are lots of debates around the evidence hierarchy and definition of evidence itself and the source above talk critically of this hierarchy with the title "The crumbling of the pyramid of evidence." We will leave that debate for another day or for more learned scientific minds. But even within currently accepted evidence hierarchy, there are lots of top-notch evidence from world leading neuroscientist from world-class universities and institutions Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4 and many others that meditation can improve:

• memory, awareness, emotional regulation;
• many mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, stress, pain;
• prevent age-related gray matter decline;
• increase cortical thickness and so on.
  Just to name few.

But, as you may have gathered, I’m not here to talk about those level of evidence today. Rather to share my own personal experience and how meditation helped me with some of my physical health problems.

Getting rid of cold sores and throat infection
Although not that serious issues – I used to suffer from cold sores at least 4-5 times a year needing antiviral cream for 4-5 weeks per year. I also used to suffer from throat infection / pharyngitis 2-3 times a year needing antibiotic treatment. This was until 2008/9.

I went to my first 10 days silent meditation retreat (Vipasanna, www.dhamma.org) in the UK in 2009. It was such a life-changing experience for me that I continued one-hour meditation every day in the morning and evening for 2 years or more.

One of the most noticeable health benefits I observed was the reduction in the frequency of cold sore and throat infection and now it is a rare occurrence. Nowadays, I tend to increase my meditation hours if and when I feel I’m coming with cough and cold or some other mild illness and, for me, it helps. Not that I’m advising not to seek medical help – please do. At the same time, our own body and energy do have healing power. This systematic review suggests that mindfulness meditation may be salutogenic for immune system dynamics (Source).

You may also find this video interesting. Here, Neuroscientist Richard Davidson talks about how Meditation Boosts Immunity.

Stopping smoking and alcohol
I used to be a heavy smoker during my University days and I tried giving up six times over 2-3 years. I used all the medication such as nicotine patch, gums, microtabs, inhalators and so on. I gave up smoking for about a couple of months then went back to have those cigarettes again. I gave up again for 100days but restarted again and so on. My love-hate affairs with cigarettes continued for over a couple of years.

Then as I mentioned earlier, I went to my first meditation retreat and I gave up smoking and alcohol after my first meditation retreat without much struggle. Stopping smoking and alcohol after the meditation was like finding the switch off button to those cravings - there was no inner struggle, not wanting to smoke and drink. It was as if miracle - you would know what I mean if you have been addicted to something and trying to give up.

Now, obviously there could be lots of confounding factors but I am convinced, for me, that meditation is my natural medication.

Interested in SGM (Steemit Group Meditation)?
We cordially invite you to Mindful Life community, which resides in the @naturalmedicine server HERE. Our #SGM (#SteemitGroupMeditation) in our virtual Meditation Hall are on:

• Wednesdays 8:30 to 9:30 pm London time (30 minute session)
  (8:30-8:40 pm check in & brief guidance, 8:40-9:10pm guided meditation and 9:10 to 9:30pm Q & A plus chitchat)

• Saturdays 5:30 to 7:00pm London time (One hour session)
  (5:30-5:40pm check in & brief guidance, 5:40-6:40pm guided meditation and 6:40 to 7:00pm Q & A plus chitchat).

But you are welcome to join just guided meditation session if time prevents you from joining the whole time.

Please join us – we love to share our Happy Place - Meditation Hall.

Promotion and Reward
This section will contain any promotion or rewards I may be offering. So watch this space. @naturalmedicine is regularly giving away some SBI for Mindful Monday post - use tag #mindfullife #naturalmedicine and drop a link of your post to @naturalmedicine's Mindful Monday post.

With Peace Love & Joy 🕉❤️😊
Let’s grow together in wisdom through #meditation 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️