Dear Healthy Friend,

Forget what you’ve heard about meditation. If the word "meditation" conjures up images of incense, finger cymbals and crystals – don't be put off if those things are not your style, because none of them are necessary to meditate properly. In fact, all you need is an open mind and if you have coronary heart disease it could be extremely beneficial to you! Keep reading...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Most people know spearmint tea’s benefits. It helps fight nausea and morning sickness. Great for treating stomach ache. It combats heartburn and fights mild indigestion. Now Dr Wright uncovers some more benefits of this refreshing drink...

Meditation can be beneficial to your heart
Francois Lubbe
Editor, Daily Health

Meditation involves clearing your mind and relaxing your body to find a calm, serene, endless, inner peace. Basically, train your mind to take a break...

Now it turns out that if you have coronary heart disease and you practise meditation, you could lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and death by as much as 50%.

Two recent studies show significant heart health benefits for people who meditate daily. And this doesn’t come from some hogwash-source. Both studies are mainstream. Researchers recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the other was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The incredible thing is that in both studies all the subjects had coronary heart disease (CHD).

Previous studies show that a popular form of meditation known as transcendental meditation (TM) may actually help patients control blood pressure.

In the most recent study of the two, US researchers from The Medical College of Wisconsin collaborated with a natural medicine school in Iowa. The 200 CHD participants (average age 59 years, with narrowing of arteries in their hearts), were divided into two groups. Half underwent TM instruction and half did not.

Results: Over nine years, rates of heart attack, stroke and death were all significantly lower in the TM group.

Lead researcher Dr. Robert Schneider, suggested it would be wise to think of TM as a new class of heart disease remedy. "In this case, the new treatments are derived from the body's own internal pharmacy stimulated by the Transcendental Meditation practise... But this is the first controlled clinical trial to show that long-term practise of this type of stress reduction routine reduces the rate of medical cardiovascular events - that is, heart attacks, strokes and mortality."

Dr. Theodore Kotchen, co-researcher of the study, professor of medicine and associate dean for clinical research at the Medical College, was quoted as saying: "This study is an example of the contribution of a lifestyle intervention - stress management - to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients."

The second smaller study, evaluated the worth of TM on components of metabolic syndrome and CHD. Researchers believe that metabolic syndrome is a contributor to CHD.

US researchers at the University of Southern California divided 103 CHD patients into two groups. Those in one group received 16 weeks of TM instruction. Compared to the placebo group, TM subjects experienced significantly better blood pressure control, reduction of insulin resistance components of the metabolic syndrome and improved heart rate variability. In addition, TM helped them control their response to stress.

If you are considering TM as a healthy habit but you are still unsure, here are a few things to help you make up your mind:

- Simple: The TM technique is an easy, effortless mental process practised for 15–20 minutes twice a day, sitting quietly and comfortably in a  chair with your eyes closed.
- Easily learned: Anyone could learn the TM technique and is enjoyable to practise.
- Immediate benefits: The pros of the TM technique are immediate and increase over time. Hundreds of research studies conducted at top medical schools and published in over 350 peer-reviewed scientific journals have verified the technique’s positive effects - for mind, body and relationships.
- No belief required: The TM technique is not based on belief or religion. In fact, you can be completely sceptical and the technique will still be fully effective.
- Develops the total brain: Brain research shows that the TM technique develops the total brain, increasing creativity and intelligence and improving decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
- Reduces stress and high blood pressure: Medical school research funded by the National Institutes of Health shows that the TM technique is the most effective mind-body practise for reducing stress and stress-related disorders, including hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and atherosclerosis.

A surprising solution for excess facial hair

Q: My excess facial hair embarrasses me, but I can't stand waxing. Is there anything I can try so I feel comfortable showing my face?

Dr. Wright: Sip a cup of strong spearmint tea to decrease the excess testosterone production that can lead to excess body hair. Researchers in Turkey asked 21 women with excess facial and body hair to drink one cup of strong spearmint tea twice daily for five days in the pre-ovulatory phases of their menstrual cycles. Total testosterone wasn't reduced, but there was a significant reduction in free testosterone and a significant increase in oestradiol - this can put the brakes on the stimulation of unwanted hair growth. Enjoy a cup on a regular basic, but don't overdo it - higher testosterone does, after all, stimulate a healthy libido.