Meditation Prescriptions: How Doctors Use Mindfulness

How Doctors Are Prescribing Meditation for Health

A growing number of healthcare providers are incorporating meditation into treatment plans. Research shows mindfulness practices can help with:

• Chronic stress reduction
• Managing depression symptoms
• Lowering blood pressure
• Coping with illness recovery

The Science Behind Medical Meditation

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a primary-care physician, explains her approach:

"I have patients start with just 5 minutes daily, gradually building to 20 minutes. We often begin right in the exam room."

Her simple method requires no special training:
1. Sit comfortably
2. Close your eyes
3. Focus on your natural breathing

How to Start Your Meditation Practice

For beginners, we recommend:

• Short sessions: Begin with 5-minute increments
• Consistency: Practice daily at the same time
• Simple focus: Use breath awareness as your anchor

Explore our Getting Started with Meditation guide for:

✓ Step-by-step techniques
✓ Common challenges and solutions
✓ Advice from experienced practitioners

As research continues to validate meditation's health benefits, this ancient practice is becoming modern medicine's newest prescription pad staple.