Improve Immune function with a Meditation Retreat By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “meditative practice enhanced immune function without activating inflammatory signals. This suggests that meditation, as a behavioral intervention, may be an effective component in treating diseases characterized by increased inflammatory responsiveness with a weakened immune system.” – Vijayendran Chandran The immune […]
Improve the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease with Long-Term Tai Chi Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi training appears to reduce balance impairments in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, with additional benefits of improved functional capacity and reduced falls.” – Fuzhong Li Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is an incurable progressive degenerative […]
Improve Autoimmune Hepatitis with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Conventional medicine is great at taking test results and making recommendations based on those results, but it doesn’t really show you how to go about your day-to-day life with a chronic disease. Mindfulness is a practical coping tool and it’s always there […]
Alter the Genes for Better Health with Meditation By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “meditation practices seem . . . promote endocrinal, neuronal, and behavioral functions. This suggests that the achievement of a state of inner silence through the practice of meditation can prevent or reverse the detrimental effects of a stressful environment.“ […]
Improve Psychological, Physiological, and Epigenetic Markers of Type 2 Diabetes with Mind-Body Practices By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Diabetes, like many other chronic diseases, can also affect the mind. Similarly the mind has great power to influence the body.” – Diabetes UK Diabetes is a major health issue. It is estimated […]
Meditation Alters Gut Microbes for Better Health By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “In calming your stress response, meditation can help prevent the slowed digestion speed, altered gene expression, intestinal permeability, and disruptive changes to gut microbes caused by stress.” – Crystal Star Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders are the most common disorders of […]
Meditation Improves Health and Well-Being Through Epigenetic Mechanisms By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “It seems unusual that something as simple and easy as meditating could improve your health, but these studies demonstrate an epigenetic link between meditation and its potential disease-reducing benefits.” – Bailey Kirkpatrick Over the last several decades, research […]
Improve the Immune System with Tai Chi and Qigong Practice By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi might have a strong effect on the immune system because it manages to bring exercise, relaxation, and meditation together in “one behavioral intervention.” – Havard Health Mindfulness training has been shown to be effective […]
Reduce Biochemical Stress Responses in Hispanic Breast Cancer Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is a state of mind which we can all acquire and use to support our wellbeing physically, emotionally and mentally. . . Having cancer, or specifically breast cancer. . . experiences take up a lot […]
Spirituality is Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health and Cognitive Ability in African Americans By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “all black religious expression has most of the following attributes: It is animistic, or spirit-filled; anthropocentric, or human-centered; dynamic; expressionistic; shamanistic (believing in communicating with spirits); and thaumaturgic (belief in miracle working).” […]