I've just started meditating because of some interesting info I came across that might interest other non-meditators (and maybe experienced ones although you might have come across it!), so I thought I'd mention it here because of the possible health benefits.
By a bit of a random process I stumbled across a fascinating presentation by Dr Richard J Davidson, a research professor of psychology & psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin on the effects on the brain (as measured by MRI scans and so on) of meditation. I found it very interesting because he shows evidence for measurable effects of meditation both on the brains of experienced meditators (Buddhist monks) and newbie people doing meditation training for only half an hour a day for eight weeks, including effects on the immune system.
The immune system stuff comes right near the end of the lecture at 54 mins 27 secs: he mentions a study involving an immune challenge (flu vaccination) to meditators vs controls which found a "significantly more robust" response to the vaccine in the meditators (the graph he shows rather exaggerates the difference in magnitude of the response because the x-axis doesn't start at zero - naughty!). In another study, the investigators spread capsacian (?) cream on participants' skin to cause inflammation and found that 8-week meditators showed greater changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines (dunno what they are but I gather they're good!) than controls.
His lecture is quite techy but there's a very good less techy lecture that covers some of the same stuff by Matthieu Ricard, biologist-turned-Buddhist monk, in similar vein.
If you get interested in neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself in response to specific kinds of training, even in adults) I highly recommend "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge. A really good read and jaw-dropping science.
I realise there's a danger of cherry-picking the positive studies in brief presentations like these but it has interested me enought to give meditation a go. All this neuroplasticity stuff has convinced me that even though my current ability to concentrate is impaired because of my illness, it might be possible to train it up if I am patient and follow neuroplasticity principles (start from a manageable but slightly challenging level, build up in small increments to where you're slightly challenged, and do it every day for at least 40 days). I might even get some side-benefits (happiness! better immune system!) while I'm at it.
Have any experienced meditators here had problems due to their ME/CFS with their meditation practice? If so, any advice? Any thoughts on the neuroplasticity stuff?
By a bit of a random process I stumbled across a fascinating presentation by Dr Richard J Davidson, a research professor of psychology & psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin on the effects on the brain (as measured by MRI scans and so on) of meditation. I found it very interesting because he shows evidence for measurable effects of meditation both on the brains of experienced meditators (Buddhist monks) and newbie people doing meditation training for only half an hour a day for eight weeks, including effects on the immune system.
The immune system stuff comes right near the end of the lecture at 54 mins 27 secs: he mentions a study involving an immune challenge (flu vaccination) to meditators vs controls which found a "significantly more robust" response to the vaccine in the meditators (the graph he shows rather exaggerates the difference in magnitude of the response because the x-axis doesn't start at zero - naughty!). In another study, the investigators spread capsacian (?) cream on participants' skin to cause inflammation and found that 8-week meditators showed greater changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines (dunno what they are but I gather they're good!) than controls.
His lecture is quite techy but there's a very good less techy lecture that covers some of the same stuff by Matthieu Ricard, biologist-turned-Buddhist monk, in similar vein.
If you get interested in neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself in response to specific kinds of training, even in adults) I highly recommend "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge. A really good read and jaw-dropping science.
I realise there's a danger of cherry-picking the positive studies in brief presentations like these but it has interested me enought to give meditation a go. All this neuroplasticity stuff has convinced me that even though my current ability to concentrate is impaired because of my illness, it might be possible to train it up if I am patient and follow neuroplasticity principles (start from a manageable but slightly challenging level, build up in small increments to where you're slightly challenged, and do it every day for at least 40 days). I might even get some side-benefits (happiness! better immune system!) while I'm at it.
Have any experienced meditators here had problems due to their ME/CFS with their meditation practice? If so, any advice? Any thoughts on the neuroplasticity stuff?
I guess it depends on how sympathetic dominant you are..and whatever else is going in your body. 
