Dr. Zhang Haisheng lectures on Buddhist medicine | Mindfulness meditation and immunity improvement

Mindfulness meditation and meditation can affect the increase in defense parameters guided by the body's immune cells, which are differentially activated, produced, and then deployed by the immune system to target areas to protect the body from infection and promote tissue recovery. This is of great significance for preventing the new coronavirus and repairing the body. Improving immunity is also the core of treating new crown patients , immune cell distribution or number is often used as a diagnostic marker for various immunosuppressive diseases, such as a decrease in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes is a cellular signal of disease progression in HIV patients.

Chronic stress and depression can inhibit immune cell activity, thereby weakening defenses against tumorigenicity surveillance, and immune cell numbers are related to innate makeup (neutrophils) and adaptive cells, which have been quantitatively studied. In one study that showed relative changes in neutrophils (mucus from nasal washes) in older adults experiencing acute respiratory illness with mindfulness decompression MBSR intervention, in a study that enumerated lymphocytes in the blood, patients diagnosed with a disease (i.e., HIV or breast cancer) had an increase in the number of T lymphocytes and activity (i.e., the percentage of T cell activation) in a sample of patients diagnosed with a disease (i.e., HIV or breast cancer) after mindfulness meditation training compared to a control group.

Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can improve the immune function of individuals, increase the activity of the autonomic nervous system of individuals, and have a positive effect on individual immune function. Studies have shown that prolactin PRL release increases during stress, enhances humoral immunity, and increases the activity of natural killer NK cells. In short, various neuroendocrine changes during stress also change immune function, which can be enhanced or inhibited. However, overall, the most obvious changes under stress are catechamine and corticosteroids, and the effects of these two on immune function are mainly inhibition. Therefore, excessive or prolonged stress often causes suppression or even dysfunction of immune function.

Mindfulness can promote the antibody response and immune response of immune cells Antibodies are molecules secreted by immunoglobulins or immune cells that recognize and neutralize pathogens through antigen markers, antibodies constitute humoral immunity, help immune cells kill toxic substances, attack viruses and bacteria, and help other functional immune cells. Suboptimal antibody responses are usually found in immunocompromised individuals [26], people experiencing chronic stress, and older adults (> 60 years of age).

Davidson et al. vaccinated both the experimental and control groups with influenza vaccines, and found that the experimental group that received mindfulness meditation produced a greater antibody response in the subjects. Witek et al. investigated and evaluated the effect and feasibility of mindfulness decompression therapy (MBSR) on immune function, quality of life, and coping styles in women with breast cancer. The results showed that the NK cell activity and cytokines in the MBSR treatment group returned to normal levels, the cortical level decreased, the quality of life improved, and the coping efficiency was enhanced. Carlson trained patients with breast and prostate cancer in mindfulness decompression therapy and found that changes in T cell products play an important role in regulating the differentiation and maturation of immune cells.

MBSR and exercise training assessed in the study by Hayney et al. at the University of Rochester Medical Center failed to enhance the immune response to the influenza vaccine; However, optimism, perceived stress and anxiety are associated with antibody responses to influenza vaccines in the expected direction.

therefore Trying to sit still for more than 30 minutes a day will naturally improve the body's immunity and is the best way to prevent and heal the new coronavirus.

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