Meditation as medication

Meditators may seem serious, but taking time to clear your mind can boost your spirits-and your immunity. That's the world from a group of American scientists. Psychologist Richard J. Davidson and colleagues gave 41 people a flue vaccine. A little more than half of the subjects learned to meditateand followed a regular schedule of "OM Time" for an hour a day, six days a week. Another group just got the vaccine. After eight weeks, meditators had higher levels of flu-fighting antibodies then those who didn't meditate. They were also better able to deal with stress and had increased activity in the area of the brain linked to good mo0ods. The reasult weren't temporary: The feel-good effects lasted for up to four months after the meditation training sessions ended."Meditation produces measurable biological changes in the brain and body," says Davidson. "Its safe and can be of great benifit. It may be useful complement to treatments already underway."