Acupuncture & Massage Blog

The beneficial health effects of exercise—including reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes—are well known, but the underlying biological mechanisms of these benefits are unclear. A new study takes a look at how regular exercise impacts health and metabolism. Using a system that analyzes blood samples, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have [...]

Transcendental meditation (TM) can produce a unique state of restful alertness, according to a new study conducted on college students at American University. The transcendental meditation technique activates the natural default mode “ground state” of the brain, producing significant brain wave differences and a greater alpha coherence between the left and right hemispheres of the [...]

College students are particularly prone to psychological distress caused by academic pressures, financial strains and uncertain futures. Transcendental meditation can aid in significantly improving students’ mental health. Benefits of transcendental meditation include: • Purposeful, flexible thinking • Energy and vitality • Strong immune functioning • Balanced physiology • Fit cardiovascular system Transcendental meditation may also [...]

People with chronic low-back problems who do yoga also do better at overcoming pain and depression than people treated conventionally for back pain, a West Virginia University study funded by the National Institutes of Health shows. The three-year, $400,000 study, published in the September issue of the journal Spine, showed lifted mood, less pain and [...]

Originating in India, yoga combines physical and mental disciplines which balance mind, body and spirit. Yoga encompasses many branches of practice, hatha yoga being the most common outside of India. Hatha yoga consists of postures (asanas), breath control (pranayamas), muscle locks (bhandas), and gestures (mudras) which integrate stretching, flexibility, strengthening, aerobic, and cardiovascular. Each asana [...]

A specific type of yoga can help improve stability and balance in women over age 65, which could help to prevent falls, finds a preliminary study out of Temple University’s Gait Study Center. Dr. Jinsup Song and researchers at the School of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Professions examined the gait and postural [...]

Adding the relaxation response, a stress management approach, to other lifestyle interventions may significantly improve treatment of systolic hypertension in the elderly. In a study conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Hypertension Program and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at MGH, participants who received relaxation response training in addition to advice on reducing [...]

A consistent practice of qigong, meditation and yoga for health promotes longevity and has a long-term effect of reestablishing the body/mind/soul connection. Qigong, meditation and yoga for health may be beneficial for various diseases and ailments such as cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, arthritis, and asthma. Health benefits of qigong, meditation and yoga for [...]

A hypnotized state produces mental and physical benefits. Hypnotherapy is a group of techniques that allow individuals to strengthen the mind-body connection to promote healing. Hypnotherapy lowers blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. Hypnotic sessions often begin with breathing exercises that aid in developing a deeper, healthier breathing pattern. Hypnosis also reduces stress. A majority [...]

Focusing on body improvement and physical well being, Hatha yoga consists of postures (asanas), breath control (pranayamas), muscle locks (bhandas), and gestures (mudras) aimed at balancing mind, body and spirit through practice. A Hatha yoga session is a complete workout, combining stretching, flexibility, strengthening, aerobic, and cardiovascular. Each asana or body position develops the strength [...]