Meditation is a discipline or practice of contemplation or awareness found in most of the world's major religions and not a medical treatment in the usual sense. Meditation is, however, frequently recommended by mainstream medical practitioners as well as alternative therapists because of its demonstrated healing effects on the central nervous system, heart rate, and level of muscular tension.

Meditation is reputed to have benefits for the entire person: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Persons who practice meditation on a regular basis may experience lowered blood pressure, more restful sleep, and relief from such physical effects of stress as ulcers, headaches, chronic muscle pain, and skin rashes. Therapeutic visualization has also been shown to extend the survival time and quality of life of terminally ill patients.

The purposes of meditation have been variously defined as increased awareness, greater ability to live in the moment, freedom from the ego...