In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative scientist Melissa Rosenkranz. Melissa's work examines the mind-body connection with a focus on how inflammation interacts with our brains and emotions, and how meditation might help. This conversation covers many topics, including:
- her interest in the mind-body connection;
- pros and cons of inflammation in the body;
- bidirectional links between inflammation in the body and our emotions;
- how inflammation can lead to hypersensitivity in the brain;
- inflammation and dementia;
- misperceptions around stress causing asthma;
- meditation's effect on inflammation and our immune response;
- meditation in asthma management (emotional and physical);
- studying whether mindfulness can protect against inflammatory damage to the brain;
- integrating meditation with medication;
- polarization in society and the power of building weak ties;
- increasing the safety signal to our bodies;
- seeing the fuller humanity of the people in our world;
- lovingkindness practice in action;
- links between inflammation in society and in our bodies;
- and a reminder that there's always a place to start when making change.
Full show notes and resources
