There are many types of meditation, but mindfulness meditation is the type that has been most studied in scientific literature.
I was first introduced to the concept in college, and I wasn’t a fan. Though I’ve always been incredibly introspective, and thought myself open-minded, I didn’t get it. Meditation first became a tool that was extremely useful for me when I was working in a position that wasn’t suited to my personality, and was driving me a little crazy/depressed. I went through formal mindfulness training at that time that really helped me to survive my last few months in that job.
Now, I use mindfulness and meditation to help me with my migraines. I have become a true believer–through practice–that my migraines must be controlled through a balance of all of the interventions that I have thrown at them: pharmacology (meds), diet, exercise, physical therapy, and mindfulness. If one is out of balance, it doesn’t work.
So what does the literature say?
Well, this 2017 Journal of American Heart Association article, discusses in detail hypertension, insulin resistance, heart disease, and finds that possible benefit on cardiovascular risk although the overall quality and in some cases, quantity of study data is modest. They go on to say that Meditation should be considered as a complementary therapy to help reduce cardiovascular risk for those who are interested in this practice, with the understanding that further research should be pursued.
The mind is a powerful tool, and one I believe should be utilized fully on our wellness journey.