As a kid I struggled with various health challenges, especially gut issues, allergies, and headaches. I tried Western medicine with little results. Eventually I started researching on my own and tried all sorts of diets to improve my health, and I learned about the concept of epigenetics, which meant to me that I might actually be able to overcome these issues by modifying something in my life, and I thought it was all about diet. I became obsessed with diets and food for several years and struggled because this is only a part of the picture.
As we move into the final quarter of the year, it is a time to reflect on three very important things: the happenings over the past year, where we currently stand on the research, and what we have to look forward to immediately…Orlando is just around the corner as I write this! As always, our team at UC San Diego is so grateful for your support. We could not have done the immense amount of data analysis this past year without you! With your continued support, we can boldly look ahead to transform the role of meditation in healthcare and for our future research to develop deep insights into the mind-body connection.
The paper details our research teams’ isolation and identification of SERPINA5, a protein that inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus containing a spike protein from entering the cell. It also demonstrates that meditation not only elevates levels of SERPINA5 in the blood, but the more experienced you are as a meditator and the more you practice, the more protection you have against the virus.
“Publish or perish”. This phrase is learned early in academic training. It often describes the pressure researchers and academics face to continually produce and publish their work in reputable journals or other scholarly outlets to advance their careers. The concept reflects that in academia, the quantity and quality of a researcher’s publications play a crucial role in their reputation, career progression, tenure decisions, and overall success.
I had been participating in medicine work-communities and found many of the practitioners to be self-promoters and trying to be gurus and charging exorbitant amounts to access the same spaces you can access through meditative practices.