Meditation has been practiced in the east for thousands of years, so far back, it predates written records. Some speculate we were meditating as much as 50,000 years ago, staring aimlessly into the crackling fire and getting lost by the entrancing sight. But it wasn’t until the 1950’s and 60’s before it started receiving more attention and the many medical benefits meditation had to offer began to be explored. Since them, meditation has gained even more popular in the west in the wake of these discoveries.

So, what are the medical benefits meditation can be credited with? The following is a list of only 7 out of many other benefits the practice can have on our physical well being.

Treating High Blood Pressure. It has been documented that regularly practicing meditation can help lower blood pressure. This treatment for high blood pressure correlates to reducing, and in some cases, reversing heart disease.

Treat Chronic Pain. Both cancer patients and recovering drug addicts going through painful withdrawal both reported meditation effectively reducing chronic pain experienced from treatments or said withdrawals.

Treat Stress And Anxiety. The fundamental properties of meditation make it ideal for relaxation for treating stress and anxiety. Meditation brings you into a relaxed state of mind while the body and muscles follow.

Sleeping Disorders. Being an effective treatment for stress and anxiety predicates its influence in helping with sleeping disorders and has been effectively used to treat insomnia.

Increased Melatonin. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, a pea size section of the brain, and has been credited as an antioxidant and anti-aging hormone. It also responsible for our our circadian rhythm, or “internal clock” setting our daily, seasonal or annual schedule. Low levels of melatonin have been associated with an inability to sleep and is effective in treating sleep disorders.

Increases Serotonin. Meditation can increase your production of serotonin, the feel good hormone that enhances our mood and makes us happy. Often prescribed for depression (Prozac), the natural production of serotonin through meditation has no side effects.

Increased DHEA. DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland and is a building block for almost every hormone you need. But it helps against bad hormones, too. A natural buffer to cortisol, DHEA blocks the stress and age accelerant hormone.

These 7 medical benefits meditation produces undeniable exemplifies the value we can get from the practice. With all these benefits meditation offers, how is it not prescribed more often? It’s starting too, but its hard for the pharmaceutical companies to make money from you if you learn how to help yourself.