68. The Science of Mindfulness

How and why mindfulness works. It's not woo woo. There is lots of science to support its impact. Our brain is capable of change.  Mindfulness is the path.  We welcome back Dr. Ellen Cooke, radiation oncologist, mindfulness teacher and Founder of the Circle of Hope. She shares literature covering benefits of mindfulness on hormonal regulation, neurofeedback, and epigenetics – especially amongst cancer patients.   Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang shares some of the neuroscience and neuroanatomy of how mindfulness affects the brain through attention, emotion regulation, self-awareness and pain processing. A few of the points shared in today's episode. Mindfulness can lessen the perception of pain. It improves attention, self awareness, and emotional regulation. It impacts release of hormones that affect love, sleep, healing, pain, stress, your immune response and mood disorders. Mindfulness has been shown in studies to lessen stress by measurements of hormones. This episode hopefully will serve as inspiration to recommit to daily mindfulness practice as an evidence-based way to help ourselves.   Some of the articles referenced in this episode:  Tang, YY., Hölzel, B. & Posner, M. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat Rev Neurosci 16, 213–225 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3916 We'd love to connect with you and invoke some of these physiologic benefits of mindfulness at our first-ever Mindful Healers: Connect in Nature retreat where we will be practicing and embodying mindful living together. Learn more & Sign up here https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreat-connect-in-nature You can learn more about Dr. Cooke here:  www.jointhecircleofhope.com CUREate Your Mind Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/585699575506999 @circleofhope4u If you want to find calm, contentment, and a clear and meaningful path forward in areas of your life beyond relationships, I invite you to explore private mindful coaching with Dr. Mahoney www.jessiemahoneymd.com If you want to develop a mindfulness practice, reach out to Dr. Liang www.awakenbreath.org *Nothing in this episode should be considered medical advice.