![\"Mind](\"http:\/\/blueheronhealthnews.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/mind_body_technique.jpg\")
Researchers are continually on the hunt for the best and newest thing to solve health problems, but what they usually end up finding is that the drug-free, natural methods win every time. <\/p>\nResearchers are continually on the hunt for the best and newest thing to solve health problems, but what they usually end up finding is that the drug-free, natural methods win every time. <\/p>\n
And so it is with new research recently published about an old technique\u2026but with a new name.<\/p>\n
In research recently published in Pychosomatic Medicine, scientists studied a group of men and women who are at highest risk of developing hypertension (or high blood pressure): average age of 50 who are pre-hypertensive.<\/p>\n
Prehypertension is the phase of health where blood pressure numbers are higher than normal (between 130 and 135 systolic) but not yet diagnosable as hypertension.<\/p>\n
Left untreated, and exposed to the same stressors that are causing the elevation in the first place, prehypertension almost always will lead to full blown high blood pressure.<\/p>\n
In the study group, however, the participants were taught a technique called \u201cmindfulness,\u201d in which a person focuses intently on the present moment, pushing away all other thoughts.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, this method has been referred to as meditation; but in mindfulness, there is no connection necessarily to any religion or cultural rules.<\/p>\n
It is merely the practice of giving the mind a focused break from the stress and anxiety that is a constant onslaught in one form or another.<\/p>\n
The study not only showed that blood pressure came down for the participants on average 5 full points, knocking many of them out of the danger zone, but had other health benefits as well. These included a reduced sensitivity to pain, better sleeping patterns, and diminished impact of depression.<\/p>\n
This is of course no news to me. For years now I\u2019ve been teaching specific type of mindfulness exercises specifically focused on lowering blood pressure<\/a><\/strong>. And the results are way more impressive than the mere 5 points from the study.<\/p>\n In fact, most people using my simple exercises get their blood pressure under 120\/80 within a week. Very often the very first time they do the exercises.<\/p>\n