Abstract
Background : Meditation is one of the healing therapies used to prevent and cure ailments and to improve health through regular practice. Although Meditation is within the paradigm of modern Western medical science, effects on the human body could be possible. Objectives : This study performed a systematic review of the literature published in Korea focused on mindfulness meditation (MM), which is being applied as mind-body therapy around the USA lately. Method : Three hundred sixty six articles were found after searching with keyword, 'mindfulness meditation (MM)' in 6 journals and web databases. Ninety papers related MM were analyzed trend, Seventeen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 38 controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were researched by systematic review. Result : Most of them were studies about relationship between MM and syndrome such as stress, depression, anxiety and MM was also applied to some disease like hypertension, temporomandibular joint disorder in some cases. In 55 studies, It was shown that MM has positive effects on various symptoms and sometimes the effect of MM showed at post and follow-up study although there was no significant difference between control group and experimental group in some cases according to outcome measurement. Interestingly, there was no study reported about side effects of MM after the application. Conclusions : MM is being clinically applied at both western and oriental hospital in Korea, but more clinical trials with the high quality are needed to support its scientific basis.