Telling Your Doctor About Meditation and Mindfulness Practice

Many people do not mention meditation to their doctor, because it feels harmless or personal. It is still worth saying. This page explains why, what to tell them and what to ask. It is general information, not medical advice, and it does not recommend any teacher or program.

Why tell your doctor

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) advises telling all your health care providers, complementary and conventional, about all the health approaches you use. It says this gives them a full picture and helps ensure coordinated and safe care. [1] NCCIH also says to tell your providers at each visit and not to wait to be asked. [2]

For meditation specifically there are three reasons:

• Coordination. Your doctor can fit practice into your care plan, such as for stress, sleep or pain, and can tell you if a practice or program is a poor match for your condition.


• Safety. NCCIH says meditation and mindfulness usually are considered to have few risks, but that few studies have examined harm, so definite safety statements are not possible. [3] A review it cites found about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect. [3] If you have a mental-health condition, tell your clinician; see who should check with a clinician before meditating.


• Not a replacement. NCCIH advises not to use meditation or mindfulness to replace conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a provider about a medical problem. [3]

What to tell them

• the kind of practice (for example a body scan, breathing, mantra or an eight-week course) and how often you do it
• if you plan a retreat or intensive practice; see meditation retreats
• whether you have noticed anything unusual: anxiety, panic, feeling unreal, flashbacks, low mood, trouble sleeping, or bodily pain from sitting. See adverse effects of meditation and physical discomfort and injury.
• other approaches you use, including supplements, since providers need the whole picture [1]

Do not stop or change any medicine because of meditation. That decision is for you and your prescriber.

What to ask

NCCIH suggests asking your providers about safety, effectiveness and possible interactions with medications before starting something new. [2] Useful questions:

• Is meditation reasonable for my condition and medicines?
• Are there parts I should avoid or adapt, such as long silent sitting or body-focused exercises?
• Do you know of programs your service or hospital trusts? (Access to programs such as MBCT varies in UK NHS services, so availability may depend on where you live. [4])
• What signs should make me stop and call you? See when to stop or pause meditating.

If your doctor seems unsure or dismissive

Evidence on meditation is mixed by condition, so some caution is reasonable; see does meditation work?. Bring specifics (the program and what it aimed to do). You can also use talking with a health professional for general tips. If you still feel unheard, a second opinion is reasonable.

Telling your teacher too

Let your teacher know about relevant health conditions, and ask how they handle distress. See questions to ask a meditation teacher.

Urgent signs

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or a medical emergency, call 911 in the US.