Improve Chronic Back Pain with Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindful mediation is an appealing option for treating your pain because it has an unusual benefit; it places you in a position of control. Unlike pain medications or surgical procedures, meditation is not done to you—but rather it is something you do for yourself.” – […]
Improve Multiple Sclerosis with Meditation and Yoga By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Studies show that for some people with MS, chronic exposure to stress is associated with worsening neurological symptoms and increased brain lesions. Researchers believe that mindfulness may help people better respond to stress by fostering healthier coping strategies. Mindfulness practice […]
Meditation Can Produce Uncomfortable Effects By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “While the benefits of mediation are being recorded in scientific journals, what’s not discussed as often are the negative meditation side effects. It can be a frustrating, sometimes agonizing process that will bring you into contact with your limitations and inner conflicts. […]
Improve Opiate Relief of Low Back Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “I’ve been doing research on back pain for 30 years. The biggest revolution has been the understanding that it’s not just a physical problem with physical solutions. It’s a biopsychosocial problem.” – Daniel Cherkin Low Back Pain […]
Reduce Pain in Children with Mind-Body Practices By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Guided imagery is a meditative process that uses visualization and imagination to bring awareness to the mind-body connection. Children can easily access this healing process because they’re naturally imaginative. By relaxing into a vivid story they gain tools to deal […]
Reduce Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindfulness is an effective practice for approaching chronic pain. It teaches individuals to observe their pain, and be curious about it. And, while counterintuitive, it’s this very act of paying attention that can help your pain.” – Margarita Tartakovsky We all have […]
Improve Psychology and Physiology with a Meditation and Yoga Retreat By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Yoga is fantastic for decreasing stress levels, and research has also shown that those who practice yoga regularly have higher levels of leptin and adiponectin in their bodies. Both of these natural chemicals work to alleviate inflammation […]
Tai Chi Fails to Improve Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Spinal Cord Disorders By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might well be called “medication in motion.” There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a […]
Reduce Fear of Pain at Work and Musculoskeletal Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “a regular meditation practice is the best ongoing foundation for working with pain. Mindfulness practice is a wonderful opportunity to do just that. It helps to shift the locus of control from the outside (“this is happening to […]
Improve Chronic Pain with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “The last thing we want to do is pay more attention to our pain. But that’s the premise behind mindfulness, a highly effective practice for chronic pain (among other concerns).” – Margarita Tartakovski We all have to deal with pain. It’s inevitable, but […]