Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Meditation Practices for Pediatric Health

Abstract

Maria is a 14-year-old Hispanic girl who has developed chronic headaches and appears to be mildly depressed. She has become irritable and gotten into two fights at school this year. Her aunt, who is raising her, does not want to start her on medication. The aunt has a friend who works as a nurse and recently started a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Maria's aunt wants to know if she could try a similar program. What is the evidence that practicing mindfulness meditation can help someone like Maria? Antwan is a 12-year-old African American boy in an urban sixth-grade class who has mild hypertension.