Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease, where nerves (brain, spinal cord and optic nerves) are attacked and the patient may often be disabled. I have close friends who suffer from this disease and I raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through Illinois MS Bike ride. http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/sudesh2012.
I came across two interesting research projects – in Cleveland Clinic and in Switzerland. Researchers in University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) studied about 150 people with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis. They assessed two groups – one control and one study group who additionally took part in eight-weeks mindfulness meditation training course (2.5 hours/week + all day retreat + 40 minutes daily – homework assignments). At the start of the study - about 65% of participants in the meditation group had serious levels of depression, fatigue, or anxiety. The patients in the meditation group reported reduced fatigue, depression, and anxiety as also improvements in overall quality of life, compared to the control group, who received the usual routine medical regimen. The positive effects of the training, lasted for at least six months, as reported by the Researchers.
Check out this fascinating blog article about the work being done at Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Jinny Tavee and her team (assisted by mother – a Buddhist monk Venerable Kong Dow). The work at Cleveland Clinic also appears to show that meditation practice appears to reduce pain and improve quality of life measures among MS patients.http://blog.cleveland.com/health/2009/03/medical_community_explores_med.html
- Videos and article about Jinny Tavee, her mother and other details of meditation for MS patients.
Do you know anyone who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis? Ask them to check with your physician/ hospital and see if meditation/mindfulness practices are an option for them.
References
Effects of meditation on pain and quality of life in multiple sclerosis and polyneuropathy: a controlled study J Tavee, M Rensel, S Pope Planchon… - Neurology, 2010
MS quality of life, depression, and fatigue improve after mindfulness trainingP Grossman, L Kappos, H Gensicke, M D'Souza… - Neurology, 2010
http://www.mscare.org/cmsc/images/journal/pdf/IJMSC_Winter_11_final_effects-of-meditation.pdf
Keep checking this blog. I will keep posting any research updates I get on this fascinating topic.
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