[Review of the effects of mindfulness meditation on mental and physical health and its mechanisms of action].
Sante mentale au Quebec January 1, 2013 Thanh-Lan Ngô
Mindfulness is linked to improved well-being, reduced cognitive reactivity, and behavioral avoidance. It appears to enhance immune function, reduce inflammation, dampen autonomic nervous system reactivity, increase telomerase activity, and raise melatonin and serotonin levels. It improves quality of life for patients with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and HIV, and aids adaptation to cancer and diabetes diagnoses. It may symptomatically improve irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, hot flashes, insomnia, stress-related overeating, and reduce cravings in substance abuse.