AIDS Slowed By Meditation?

As reported by Reuters, researchers here in the United States suspect that meditating can actually slow down the progression of AIDS in a matter of weeks. If proven with further studies, patients will have access to an incredibly peaceful, painless and fulfilling “medicine” to help fight off the deadly health diagnosis.

Scientists studied patients who practiced mindfulness meditation—“awareness of the present moment”—and found that their overall stress levels were lowered. Not exactly surprising if you know about this practice! The real surprise was that with lowered stress levels came higher T-cell counts, meaning that AIDS patients were battling the illness with more success.

What this could mean for AIDS treatment, and the treatment of other diseases in general, is encouraging and exciting. Obviously, meditating has no side effects (except for positive ones!) and lacks the risk involved with the proverbial drug cocktails and other invasive treatments. Are there minor or major illnesses in your own life that have been significantly helped, in your opinion, by the regular practice of meditation?