What is Meditation?
Category: Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Most popular types: Breath Meditation Zen Meditation Conscious Mental Rest Meditation Show all
See also: Prayer/meditation
Meditation is a discipline in which the mind is focused on an object of thought or awareness. It usually involves turning attention to a single point of reference. The practice may engender a higher state of consciousness.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxious mood | 207 | 67 | |
| General health | 193 | 67 | |
| Pain | 89 | 30 | |
| Depressed mood | 28 | 12 | |
| Emotional lability | 25 | 2 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 4 | |
| Moderate | 5 | |
| Mild | 13 | |
| None | 171 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Meditation
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach pain | 2 | |
| Anxious mood | 1 | |
| Cold intolerance | 1 | |
| Dry mouth | 1 | |
| Excitability | 1 | |
| Fatigue | 1 |
Why patients stopped taking Meditation
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 22 | |
| Did not seem to work | 8 | |
| Side effects too severe | 3 | |
| Course of treatment ended | 2 | |
| Personal research | 2 | |
| Change in health plan coverage | 1 | |
| Doctor's advice | 1 |
Duration
Stopped using Meditation
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 4 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 11 | |
| 6 months - 1 year | 3 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 2 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 9 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 3 | |
| 10 years or more | 1 |
Last updated: