Mesothelioma Meditation Alternative Therapy

Being diagnosed with a terminal illness like mesothelioma can be very traumatic and unsettling for the patient. The gestation period of the infection spans 20 to 50 years; as a result, the disease generally manifests late in life and often at a stage when not much can be offered in terms of management other than palliative measures to help improve the quality of remaining life. In this scenario, any complementary or alternative therapy that promises any succor to the afflicted person is welcome. A number of such therapies have come out of the Eastern countries including China, Japan, and India. Of these, mediation became popular in the United States in the sixties as part of a new cultural movement of that time. It was only around 1980 that meditation was first used with traditional cancer treatments, such as mesothelioma chemotherapy.

What meditation means

Etymologically speaking, ‘meditate’ refers to reflective thought; it is a "discipline in which the mind is focused on an object of thought or awareness." As a therapy, it comprises a method of relaxation and mental restoration that instills a sense of peace to restore balance within the body and mind. Certain phrases or words, also known as mantras, are repeated while deep-breathing exercises are performed simultaneously. Instead of mantras, creative visualization or guided meditation may also be used in a similar manner.

Effects on mesothelioma patients

In this context, it is easy to see the benefits of mesothelioma meditation for patients who are beset with anxiety and uncertainty owing to the mesothelioma diagnosis and treatments of this debilitating disease. Incorporating meditation into the treatment regime instills a sense of relaxation and calm. In recent times, meditation has gained new forms such as bio-feedback or autogenic training. Whatever the form, meditative practice facilitates deep relaxation, aids in focused concentration, alters the state of consciousness, helps in suspension of left-brain functions, and promotes a high and sustained level of self-awareness.

Scientific interest

Interest in meditation techniques was first aroused by a report published in the Medical Journal of Australia thirty years ago. Author Ainsley Meares presented results of documented cases in which tumors were found to go into a degree of regression after periods of deep meditation. This has been of special interest to asbestos cancer patients. Since that time, a number of studies have been conducted on the physiological effects of meditation and mainstream medicine today incorporates meditation for mesothelioma cancer as a way to deal with pain without resorting to medication.

Although there is no known cure for mesothelioma, the meditation alternative therapy may be used as an effective way to relax the body, strengthen the immune system and alter one’s consciousness.