The new morphine

Next time you're in pain, don't take a pill--take a few deep breaths instead, because meditation can actually offer real relief.

And before you dismiss that as something straight out of a 1960s space cadet academy, consider this: A new study finds the practice can actually bring more relief than morphine.

I'll chant to that!

Researchers asked 18 healthy young adults who had never meditated to spend four 20-minute training sessions learning a technique known as focused attention.

Focused attention is exactly how you might picture meditation: You focus on something very specific, like the sound of a clock ticking, and take control of your breathing as you let go of everything else.

Before the volunteers learned these techniques, they were placed into an MRI tube while a probe was placed against the calf and slowly raised to 120 degrees.

That's not going to burn anyone... but it's hot enough to cause pain, and researchers asked the volunteers to rate those levels.

Then, the experiment was repeated after the training sessions--and this time, the volunteers were asked to meditate while the probe did its work.

The researchers say meditating reduced pain intensity by an average of 40 percent--with some people reporting up to 93 percent relief compared to how they felt before they learned the technique.

In addition, the average "pain unpleasantness" score fell by 57 percent, while MRI images revealed less activity in the areas of the brain associated with pain, according to the study in The Journal of Neuroscience.

Compare that to the 25 percent reduction in pain usually experienced with meds like morphine--and if that's what four quickie training sessions can do, imagine the benefits of a steady meditation habit.

Other studies have also found that meditation can help reduce pain and beat stress... and it might even save your life.

Another form of meditation, transcendental meditation, has been shown to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and death by up to 50 percent.

Believe it or not, the benefits didn't end there: Participants in that study also had lower levels of blood pressure, anxiety, depression and anger.

Of course, TM is also famous for the high cost of learning it--but you don't have to pay big money to meditate.

It might even cost nothing at all.

Many senior centers offer meditation lessons for little or no money. You can also search online for free lessons.

Here's one to get you started courtesy of the Mayo Clinic, if you go to Mayoclinic.com.

Ready, set... focus.

On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls