Is meditation as pain relief a bogus concept? New study debunks long-held belief | Health

The study showed that meditation and the placebo effect activate different neural pathways; This proved that meditation does indeed have a tangible effect on pain. Fadel Zeidan, PhD, professor of anesthesiology and Professor of Empathy and Compassion Research at UC San Diego’s Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, noted in a media release that mindfulness meditation helps separate pain from the self. The way a person experiences pain.

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The study was conducted on 115 volunteers who were divided into four groups: mindfulness meditation, sham meditation, placebo cream or control group. Volunteers were asked to undergo four 20-minute training sessions before being pain tested under an MRI scanner.

Mindfulness meditation and placebo cream and fake treatments

Mindfulness meditation has been observed to outperform placebos and sham treatments in reducing pain ratings, while also showing unique effects on the brain.

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While the placebo cream helped influence brain patterns associated with pain expectations and beliefs, the mock meditation was designed to mimic the meditation ritual without the involvement of key ingredients; this had minimal effect on pain relief.

Mindfulness meditation and pain relief

For years, people believed that the placebo effect overlapped with the brain’s pain-related mechanisms; However, the latest study shows that mindfulness meditation and the placebo effect have different brain responses. Mindfulness meditation may directly intervene to reduce chronic pain rather than through a placebo effect.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.