BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies - The Consciousness Library

Effectiveness of shared meditation involving cancer patients, health professionals and third persons on well-being and psychosocial skills: a randomised study

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 3, 2026 Virginie Prévost, François Christy, Alexandra Leconte et al.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based interventions are recommended for improving well-being. We evaluated the potential added value of shared meditation involving patients with cancer, health professionals, and third persons compared with patient-only meditation. METHODS: We designed a randomised controlled trial (CONSORT guidelines) to assess the benefit of shared meditation, where patients with...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-026-05449-5 Feeling Psychological intervention Psychosocial Perceived stress scale +10

Remodeling of the ventral attention network-default mode network as potential neural correlates of anxiety in lumbar disc herniation patients treated with lever positioning manipulation: a resting-state fMRI study.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies March 16, 2026 Xing-Chen Zhou, Shuang Wu, Kai-Zheng Wang et al.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the brain functional network remodeling associated with the relief of negative emotions in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) treated with lever positioning manipulation (LPM) using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) technology. METHODS: A prospective study included LDH patients (Group 1, n = 47) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (Group 2, n = 43). Group 1...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-026-05343-0 Full text Anxiety Lever positioning manipulation Lumbar disc herniation

Considerations for sociocultural adaptations of a mindfulness-based program within a low socioeconomic setting in Cape Town, South Africa

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies December 30, 2025 Sarah Foale, Soraya Seedat, Tanya Heyns

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in cultivating a sense of well-being has been demonstrated in many populations globally. However, mindfulness research is lacking in low socioeconomic contexts. This study explored how a mindfulness-based program may be adapted to be feasible, acceptable, and accessible to participants in a low socioeconomic setting in Cape Town, South...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-05122-3 Full text Mindfulness Socioeconomic status Snowball sampling Attendance +7

How yoga interventions are operationalized and reported in the context of mental health and wellbeing RCTs: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies December 22, 2025 Mary C Frazier, Masha Remskar, Samantha M Harden et al.

BACKGROUND: Yoga is a popular intervention demonstrating promising impacts for mental health and wellbeing. Despite growing research interest, yoga remains poorly operationalized and inconsistently described in scientific literature, hindering dissemination, rigorous evaluation, and replication. This systematic review aims to address this critical knowledge gap by examining how yoga is...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-05162-9 Full text Holistic Intervention Mental health Physical activity +2

Prevalence and predictors of meditation use in Australia and New Zealand: results from a nationally representative survey.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies December 4, 2025 Jonathan N. Davies, Cate Bailey, Julieta Galante et al. 1 citation

BACKGROUND: Meditation use has grown significantly in recent decades. However, population prevalence data is largely absent in Australasia. METHODS: We surveyed adults in Australia (n = 2,072) and New Zealand (n = 571) in 2023, using census-informed quotas for age, gender, ancestry/ethnicity, region and income. We calculated lifetime and past year meditation use estimates and conducted...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-05183-4 Full text Meditation Australia Health behaviours Healthcare utilisation +7

The micro-phenomenology of Floatation-REST

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies November 6, 2025 Helena Hruby, Marc Wittmann, Stefan Schmidt et al.

This micro-phenomenological study examines altered states of consciousness (ASC) during Floatation-REST, a sensory isolation method where individuals lie in a tank filled with Epsom salt-saturated water in complete silence and darkness. Salubrious effects of Floatation-REST have been shown in persons suffering from mental health conditions; these positive outcomes might be related to the...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-026-05415-1 Full text Phase matter Consciousness Silence Isolation microbiology +4

Feasibility study of an embodied and embedded mindfulness- and compassion-based intervention for non-suicidal self-injury disorder.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies September 1, 2025 Emma Schmelefske, Megan Per, Leena Anand et al.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with suicide risk, as well as a number of psychological disorders. This, coupled with its high prevalence rate, make it imperative that effective treatments for those who engage in NSSI are investigated and made available to the public. Despite this, few interventions specifically targeting NSSI have been researched. This study aimed to address this...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04962-3 Full text Mindfulness Feasibility study Non-suicidal self-injury Self-compassion

Can heart rate variability demonstrate the effects and the levels of mindfulness? A repeated-measures study on experienced and novice mindfulness practitioners.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 3, 2025 Yanping Wei, Yifei Xu, Wanlin Chen et al. 4 citations

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a potential biomarker that might demonstrate the effects of mindfulness, but it might be influenced by practice experiences. This study wanted to elucidate the possibility of using HRV metrics to reveal the effects of mindfulness and examine its variation between novice and experienced mindfulness practitioners. Forty-six participants (20 experienced...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04972-1 Full text Autonomic activity Heart rate variability Immediate effect Practice experience +14

A systematic review of flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST).

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 3, 2025 Elnaz Lashgari, Emma Chen, Jackson Gregory et al. 4 citations

Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) is a therapeutic technique that involves immersing an individual in an environment with minimal sensory input or stimulation. The goal of REST is to induce a state of relaxation that is deeper than what can be achieved through other forms of relaxation techniques. Research suggests that REST can help reduce anxiety, alleviate chronic pain,...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04973-0 Full text Float pod Flotation Prisma Mental well-being +6

Assessing willingness and preference for body scan practices in ADHD: a survey study.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies March 29, 2025 Burcu Göz Tebrizcik, Alexandra L Georgescu, Eleanor J Dommett

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition, but current treatment options are limited. Although medication is widely used, it does not fully address all challenges and can result in considerable side effects. One approach showing promise in alleviating symptoms is mindfulness. However, typical mindfulness-based stress reduction programmes require a...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04842-w Full text Meditation Adults With ADHD Body scan practices Treatment

Effectiveness of an age-modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mental health in older people with depressive symptoms: a non-randomised controlled trial.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies February 26, 2025 Yun-Han Wang, Yun-Lin Wang, Dara Kiu Yi Leung et al. 5 citations

Emerging evidence has shown that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is effective in improving depressive symptoms in the older population. However, the accessibility to MBCT is limited by the shortage of psychotherapists or mindfulness teachers. One potential solution is to involve social workers, who have the knowledge and skills to promote individual and community well-being in...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04781-6 Full text Anxiety Depression Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Older adults +2

Rapid shift of gut microbiome and enrichment of beneficial microbes during arhatic yoga meditation retreat in a single-arm pilot study

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies February 13, 2025 Sanjay Swarup, Abhishek Gupta, Marianne Chung et al.

The human microbiome plays a vital role in human health, mediated by the gut–brain axis, with a large diversity of functions and physiological benefits. The dynamics and mechanisms of meditations on oral and gut microbiome modulations are not well understood. This study investigates the short-term modulations of the gut and oral microbiome during an Arhatic Yoga meditation retreat as well as on...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-04783-4

Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies November 4, 2024 Nolwenn Marie, Yannick Lafon, Aminata Bicego et al. 13 citations

Shamanism is a spiritual tradition in which trance practitioners deliberately modify their state of consciousness to seemingly interact with an invisible world to resolve their community members' problems. This review aims to provide a multidisciplinary overview of scientific research on shamanic trance. The search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Twenty-seven articles...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04678-w Full text Phenomenology Shamanism Clinical applications Trance

The influence of mindfulness meditation combined with progressive muscle relaxation training on the clinical efficacy and quality of life of patients with sarcopenia receiving haemodialysis: a randomised controlled trial.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 17, 2024 Yong-Yao Wu, Yi-Yi Gao, Jing-Qiao Wang et al. 14 citations

To study the effect of mindfulness meditation combined with progressive muscle relaxation training on the clinical efficacy and quality of life in patients with sarcopenia receiving maintenance haemodialysis (MHD). Eligible patients with sarcopenia in our hospital were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 24) and an intervention group (n = 25). The control group received conventional...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04485-3 Full text Maintenance haemodialysis Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation Quality of life +1

A multisite feasibility randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress, and health in law enforcement officers.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies April 4, 2024 Michael Christopher, Sarah Bowen, Katie Witkiewitz et al. 9 citations

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are exposed to significant stressors that can impact their mental health, increasing risk of posttraumatic stress disorder, burnout, at-risk alcohol use, depression, and suicidality. Compromised LEO health can subsequently lead to aggression and excessive use of force. Mindfulness training is a promising approach for high-stress populations and has been shown to...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04452-y Full text Mindfulness Aggression Law enforcement Remote +2

Mind and body connection in expert meditators: a computational study based on central and peripheral nervous system

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies March 7, 2024 Francesca Borghesi, Riccardo Cremascoli, Alice Chirico et al. 6 citations

A meditative 'technique' is conceived as a continuum of different affective states involving mind and body jointly. Meditative practices can involve cognitive effort (e.g., focused attention and open-minded techniques), as well as automatic and implicit practices (e.g., transcendental techniques). The NGALSO tantric self-healing meditation technique is a brief, comprehensive meditation...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04413-5 Electroencephalography Transcendental meditation Neurofeedback Neuropsychology +4

Mindfulness-based interventions to support wellbeing of adults in low socio-economic settings: a realist review

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies January 29, 2024 Sarah Foale, Yvonne Botma, Tanya Heyns

Abstract Background Mindfulness as a modality involves training the innate human capacity for present-moment awareness with a view to cultivating a more harmonious and integrated life experience, especially in the face of hardship. Over the past four decades, the field of mindfulness has grown rapidly. Despite a substantial body of literature outlining the many benefits of mindfulness practice...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04263-7 Full text Adapt Low income Low resource Low socio-economic +1

The acceptability and feasibility of a virtual mantram program for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders: mixed method results.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies January 2, 2024 Sean Ferkul, Zena Agabani, Osamu Minami et al. 8 citations

There is a need for expanded options for therapeutic interventions for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). The study aimed to examine evidence for the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a virtual Mantram Repetition Program for adults with PTSD and SUD. This project utilized mixed-method design (explanatory sequential design) to collect...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04312-1 Full text PTSD Substance use disorder Acceptability Feasibility +5

The effect of an adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program on mental health, maternal bonding and birth outcomes in psychosocially vulnerable pregnant women: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial in a Danish hospital-based outpatient setting.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies October 14, 2023 Sine Skovbjerg, A Sumbundu, Michelle Kolls et al. 11 citations

Stress and mental disorders in pregnancy can adversely affect the developing fetus. Women with a preconception history of mental disorders or of psychosocial vulnerabilities are at increased risk of experiencing perinatal stress or mental health problems. Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction (MBSR) is an acceptable intervention for pregnant women and has a growing evidence-base with meta-analyses...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04194-3 Full text Mbsr Mental disorders Mental health Mindfulness-based stress reduction +4

The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies September 8, 2023 Chuyuan Miao, Yun Gao, Xiaohua Li et al. 19 citations

Mindfulness yoga is a type of exercise that emphasizes the integration of mindfulness or meditation into yoga. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness yoga intervention on major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted by searching nine databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04141-2 Full text Depression Major depressive disorder Mindfulness Meta-analysis +2

Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 21, 2023 Nina Laplaud, Anaïck Perrochon, Matthieu Gallou-Guyot et al. 16 citations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after trauma. While PTSD management strategies include first-line pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, mind-body therapies, such as yoga, are applied in the PTSD population. This overview aimed to summarize the effectiveness of yoga interventions on PTSD symptoms in adults in a systematic review (SR) including randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04074-w Full text Meditation Mindfulness PTSD Mind–body therapies +1

A randomized controlled trial on the effects and acceptability of individual mindfulness techniques - meditation and yoga - on anxiety and depression in people with Parkinson's disease: a study protocol.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies July 17, 2023 Jojo Yan Yan Kwok, Man Auyeung, Shirley Yin Yu Pang et al. 6 citations

Between 40 and 50% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience anxiety and depression, associated with impaired physical function, high care dependency and mortality. Recently, the United States National Institutes of Health has urged the implementation of mindfulness practices in chronic illness care. Most research to date has examined the effects on chronically ill patients of...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04049-x Full text Anxiety Depression Meditation Mindfulness +6

Isha yoga practices, vegan diet, and participation in Samyama meditation retreat: impact on the gut microbiome & metabolome - a non-randomized trial.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies April 5, 2023 Maitreyi Raman, Ramana V. Vishnubhotla, Hena R Ramay et al. 25 citations

Growing evidence suggests a role for gut bacteria and their metabolites in host-signaling responses along the gut-brain axis which may impact mental health. Meditation is increasingly utilized to combat stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. However, its impact on the microbiome remains unclear. This study observes the effects of preparation and participation in an advanced meditation...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03935-8 Full text Meditation Brain-gut axis Microbiome Vegan diet +1

Shared meditation involving cancer patients, health professionals and third persons is relevant and improves well-being: IMPLIC pilot study

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 18, 2022 Virginie Prévost, Sophie Lefèvre‐Arbogast, Alexandra Leconte et al. 7 citations

BACKGROUND: Alleviating suffering and improving quality of life are universally shared goals. In this context, we implemented a pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a mindfulness intervention in the form of meditation involving together cancer patients, health professionals, and third persons. METHODS: Two groups of 15 participants equally composed of patients, health...

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03599-w Meditation Mindfulness Context archaeology Empathy +5

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