(Clearwisdom.net) Meditation can be better than morphine at relieving pain. After receiving 80 minutes of meditation training, one can stop pain effectively, according to a report published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
The study was done in a laboratory where the researcher applied heating probes on the legs of 15 male and female participants before and after they were given meditation training. The probe was used to gradually increase the person's skin temperature to 120 degrees and cause pain, while the brain was being scanned.
The test subjects then received four 20 minute meditation training sessions. A second test with the heating probe was conducted while the subjects meditated. According to these ratings, on average the pain unpleasantness was reduced by 57%, and the pain intensity reduced by 40%. In comparison, the reduction of pain rating with morphine was only 25%.
Brain scans found that the pain-sensitive area in the brain became calmer after meditation.
The researcher said that this was the first time it was demonstrated that an hour of meditation could dramatically reduce pain and pain-related brain activities. The study showed that meditation can be truly effective, and help reduce pain without medication.
All drugs have some side effects, and painkillers such as morphine can cause addiction. Meditation, however, has no side effects and no cost.
In recent years, many studies have shown that meditation is beneficial to one’s health. In fact this has long been demonstrated by Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong has five sets of exercises to help one relax. The fifth exercise is conducted while one meditates. Most Falun Gong practitioners manage to rid themselves of their illnesses through cultivation and are able to experience the wonder of true health.
Relying on meditation alone certainly is not sufficient to achieve this. The more important factor is elevating one’s moral character. Practitioners rely on Mr. Li Hongzhi’s book Zhuan Falun for guidance on how to elevate their moral character.
