IS MEDITATION BETTER THAN MEDICATION?

A recent study performed by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center states that meditation can be more effective than morphine and other narcotic medications.  Meditation proved to be up to 40% effective in treating the pain experience compared to drugs which was only about 25% effective.  Pain is a subjective experience by an individual.  Results were measured using a specific MRI imaging of the brain that looks at the blood vessels.  This subtle practice of meditation teaches us how to stop labeling our pain and how to respond to it differently and to be more present and consciously aware of our mind/body experience.