It’s no secret that meditation has been gaining steam in the west for a very long time now. As its popularity continues to increase, more and more scientists are becoming interested in testing its effectiveness, and the studies keep producing positive results time and time again. Researchers are mostly interested in seeing how well meditation works as a homeopathic treatment for people with psychological and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and so far it turns out it works very well. Some scientists are starting to wonder if meditation could have even greater benefits with the body, mind and spirit connection.

The standard model when it comes to treating patients for depression is to prescribe a medication (or many medications) that aims to balance the chemicals in the patient’s brain, in the hopes it will cure the illness. This method works well for some, but not all.

When it comes to treating depression, the success rate of meditation seems to be on par with antidepressants: after about eight weeks of therapy, the patients experience an improvements in their mood — roughly the same amount of time it takes for antidepressants to work. The effects do seem to taper off several months after the initial treatment, but that is also often the case with antidepressants. In the case of meditation, this usually happens because the patient stops practicing as religiously and routine as they did when they began, not because the meditation itself suddenly stops working.

It is important to note that it’s still a little too soon to say with 100 percent certainty that patients can forgo their meds all together as long as they are meditating. For many that might be true, but for some, their cases may be too extreme to be treated without medication. That being said never diagnose yourself — always get a professional diagnosis — and always consult a trained professional before you attempt to treat any depression you may have with meditation alone.

Note: Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web site.