I read a very interesting article in the Daily Mail this week in which they reported that a review of some previous studies has found that regular meditation could alleviate symptoms of depression as well as conventional anti-depressants.

It claims that just 10 to 20 minutes per day of mindfulness meditation can have a significant benefit on overall mental health and wellbeing. And there's proof. Imaging studies show that the brain lays down extra connections and tissue in areas associated with attention, memory and empathy in proportion to the hours of meditation practised. They were also able to see stress reactions in the brain dissolve once people begin to meditate.

Apparently variants of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy are now being used to treat suffering arising from a wide range of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. In addition, it is being used for back problems, migraine, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

If you'd like to read the full article, just follow this link: http://tiny.cc/bn8i9w

Caroline Ashcroft

Moodscope