Today, more than 240 programs around the country are modeled on the University of Massachusetts program. So far, few of the hundreds of studies on meditation look specifically at arthritis or related conditions. However, stress is believed to be associated with flares in many kinds of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia. Many studies have shown meditation can significantly lower stress, chronic pain and anxiety. There are several studies that show meditation can be effective for fibromyalgia.
Meditation is also effective when combined with other mind-body techniques.
And those results lasted four months after the program ended, says Singh, an author of that study. Meditation might also help with psoriatic arthritis. In a randomized, controlled trial of people with psoriasis undergoing ultraviolet light therapy, skin lesions cleared up significantly faster in those given a mindfulness-meditation audio tape to listen to during therapy sessions compared to those who did not meditate. Other studies suggest meditation may have far-reaching effects. Scientists now know meditation changes the way our brain works, and shows that thoughts can influence the brain and the body, says Dr. Benson.