Chronic pain is pervasive in our society. Unfortunately, the conventional medical approach to chronic pain relies heavily on drugs or surgery, both of which come with significant adverse effects. For thousands of years, Buddhist monks have known that meditation reduces the sensory evaluation of pain. Science is beginning to reveal the mechanisms behind the meditation/pain-reduction connection, with exciting implications for how we approach pain management in the future.

Studies of longtime meditators indicate that these individuals experience decreased activation of pain pathways in response to painful stimuli, such as submersion of a hand or limb into icy-cold water.  The mindfulness cultivated by a long-term meditation practice appears to dampen pain perception by inhibiting ascending nociceptive information, that is, pain signals originating from the part of the body that is in pain.  Interestingly, meditation reduces pain independently of opioid pathways, which are the target of the notorious opioid drugs. So far, mindfulness has been investigated for its pain-alleviating effects in people with chronic back pain and fibromyalgia, with promising results.  While not recommended as a standalone treatment, mindfulness may be a beneficial adjunct therapy for people dealing with pain daily.