The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity—A Transformative Guide to Understanding Childhood Trauma and Health

by Nadine Burke Harris

Researchers doing a similar study on meditation and cardiovascular health found a difference in arterial-wall thickness. Meditation was shown to be associated with reversing the narrowing of arteries, which for patients suffering from ischemic heart disease can be nothing short of lifesaving. In another study involving breast and prostate cancer patients, researchers found that meditation was associated with decreased stress symptoms, increased quality of life, and improved functioning of the HPA axis. Other studies have shown that meditation decreases cortisol levels, enhances healthy sleep, improves immune function, and decreases inflammation—all critical parts of keeping our biological systems balanced and able to mitigate the effects of toxic stress.