Meditation Helps Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue (CFS)

November 17th, 2008

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue are distressing disorders, characterised by pain, fatigue, and a multitude of other possible symptoms including depression and anxiety. Meditation has been shown to benefit people with Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue syndrome (CFS) through calming the mind and easing the body. The profoundly deep rest and relaxation that is cumulative when one meditates, gives the body more ability to restore balance and heal itself.

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is an ancient practice used by many cultures as a way of experiencing a deep spiritual connection, such as a connection to God, inner peace, or a freeing from the struggles of the material world. Its roots have been in the East, but the West has also used meditation techniques like prayer and Celtic nature ceremonies over many centuries.

Meditation allows a person to take a break from the endless chattering of the mind and the worries and stress of everyday life. It engenders a feeling of relaxation and peace, whilst producing mental clarity and alertness. Meditation helps you to let thoughts or feeling that arise to pass without reaction. The wandering attention is gently brought back to the meditation. Studies show that you don’t need to believe in a religion or even spirituality to benefit from meditation.

There are two very important factors when using meditation:

1. To use a system like FISU Meditation that prescribes meditation individually for each person
2. And to practice it regularly.

What Are The Benefits Of Meditation?

Mental/Emotional Benefits:

Fewer mood swings – less moody
Much less Stress
Freedom from depression
Less anxiety
Increased energy and vitality
Improved memory and cognitive function
A sense of peace and calm
Relief from PMT

Physical benefits of Meditation:

Lowered blood pressure
Reduced heart rate
More balanced nervous system
Better Sleep
May help balance the immune system to help the body resist disease and heal
Less physical stress and a more balanced the autonomic nervous system (which is what governs the stress response in the body.)

How Does Meditation Help People With FM and CFS?

Research has shown time and again that meditation can help people who suffer from chronic pain. It is also one of the most ancient, proven methods relieving stress.

Recently, meditation has been shown to reduce symptoms of FM and CFS. It is one of the most ancient systems for reducing stress, which is a key feature of these conditions. Stress exacerbates CFS and FM, as well as causing more of it, creating a vicious circle. Lowering stress in some way is important for sufferers, and meditation is free and doesn’t require leaving the house or depending on others (you need to take a FISU Meditation course which is essential for the beginning to learn the techniques properly). It also doesn’t require special equipment or clothing, and there are no side effects and provided you have somewhere peaceful or quiet to meditate in your home – you are ready to go!

Meditation has also been shown to improve sleep patterns and increase energy. FISU Meditation has show us that over the years of teaching, many people with sleep problems have overcome these, and often, very quickly.

Furthermore, research has continually shown that it reduces pain levels. It can enhance the body’s ability to heal itself, and improve overall quality of life.

Physically, it can lower the level of cortisol in the body, which is a stress hormone. Mentally, it helps you to get your mind off of worries, pain, stress, and illness. It allows you to cultivate a focus on something completely unrelated to your life, your pain, or your illness.

Meditation is not a cure for FM or CFS; it is an ancient tool for relieving symptoms as well as taking control of your illness.

Any good meditation teacher will tell you that meditation is not a cure for any illness or problem. It is a long term strategy that has proven useful to many people for centuries to improve their overall wellbeing.

What Is The Research?
One study, conducted in 1993, tested the effects of daily meditation on 77 Fibromyalgia patients. 51% of participants reported moderate to significant improvement in their symptoms.
In 1998, researchers studied the effects of meditation on FM. They found that meditative practices lessened the aches, sleeplessness, muscle pain, and depression experienced by people with this condition.

Another 1998 study revealed that people with CFS who used mind/body medicine practices such as meditation tripled their chances of improvement over a one year period, compared people with CFS who did not engage in these practices.

There are ME suffers in FISU who you can talk to and who have improved their condition though meditation.
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