People have practiced meditation for thousands of years, but psychologists and neuroscientists have studied its effects on humans for only a few decades. ... Still, some studies do suggest that meditation that promotes mindfulness can help people relax, manage chronic stress and even reduce reliance on pain medication.

Is mindfulness meditation effective?

Researchers reviewed more than 200 studies of mindfulness among healthy people and found mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Mindfulness can also help treat people with specific problems including depression, pain, smoking and addiction.

How long does mindfulness meditation take to work?

How long you will need to persevere depends on how long your sessions are and how often you meditate. With a daily practice of 10 to 20 minutes, you should see positive results from within a few weeks to a couple of months.