# Is there any proven benefit to meditation?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proven-benefit-to-meditation/637540>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 12, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proven-benefit-to-meditation/637540 "2012-10-12T18:24:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proven-benefit-to-meditation/637540/1 "2012-10-12T18:24:09Z")

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The title says it all really. Is there any evidence that meditation is beneficial to the body, or is it all a load of hippie nonsense? Trying to search online for an answer, I can only find sites with an obvious bias. A lot of them say it’s “scientifically proven”, but with no reference to scientific studies.

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proven-benefit-to-meditation/637540/2 "2012-10-12T19:51:44Z")

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There are many studies on meditation and its benefits on [PubMed](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed). It seems that it is beneficial in treating some things. Here is one [abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22805898)on Mindfulness-based stress reduction.

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> The evidence suggests that both MBSR and MBCT have efficacy as adjunctive interventions for anxiety symptoms. MBSR is beneficial for general psychological health and stress management in those with medical and psychiatric illness as well as in healthy individuals. Finally, MBSR and Zen meditation have a role in pain management.

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**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proven-benefit-to-meditation/637540/3 "2012-10-12T21:28:47Z")

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Endorfins and other natural drugs can be generated while meditating. One of my customers was a Sidja Yoga Meditation temple, the long term members had an unbelievably youthful appearance about them for their ages. This seemed to be a cult although many of the members seemed to come and go freely and acted very normal in all respects, others seemed to be more dedicated to the prayer and meditation aspect and appeared in somewhat of a mild stupor. They held the medition sessions at frequent intervals throughout the day.