Meditation Apps for IBD patients

By Wayne Persky

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Research using advanced intracranial electrophysiology supplies new insights into how meditation influences brain activity in deep limbic structures, particularly loving-kindness meditation (Maherm, Tortolero, Jun, and Saez, 2025). The studies highlight significant neural changes in the amygdala and hippocampus, areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation, memory, and mood disorders.

Researchers at Mount Sinai conducted a study using intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in epilepsy patients with implanted neurostimulation devices.1 These deep brain recordings, which offer a much clearer picture than traditional scalp EEG, showed that meditation directly alters brain wave activity in the amygdala and hippocampus. The amygdala, known for its role in processing emotions and stress responses, and the hippocampus, crucial for memory formation and emotional balance, both exhibited changes in neural oscillations during meditation.

​Meditation alters brain waves.

The study found that loving kindness meditation increased the power of gamma waves (30–55 Hz) and altered the duration of beta waves (13–30 Hz). Gamma waves are associated with cognitive processing, attention, and higher-order thinking, while beta waves are linked to emotional processing and attentional control. These findings are significant, because mood disorders like anxiety and depression are often associated with abnormal beta and gamma activity. The ability to modulate these brain waves through meditation suggests potential therapeutic benefits.

Previous meditation skills are not required.

Unlike most previous studies that focused on experienced meditators, this research found significant changes in novice meditators, meaning that meditation can begin to influence brain activity almost immediately. Participants, all of whom were first-time meditators, reported an average depth of meditation score of 7.43/10, indicating a strong engagement with the practice.

The benefits are obvious.

Since meditation is non-invasive, cost-effective, and widely accessible, it could serve as a complementary intervention for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and cognitive decline. The observed changes in brain wave activity align with previous findings on how meditation enhances mental well-being and emotional regulation. Unlike pharmaceutical treatments, meditation does not carry side effects and may offer long-term benefits through neuroplasticity and self-regulation.

Summarizing:

This research provides compelling evidence that meditation directly influences deep brain structures related to emotional regulation and memory. The fact that these changes occur even in first-time meditators suggests that meditation has an immediate impact on the brain, potentially offering a valuable tool for mental health and cognitive well-being. As more studies emerge, meditation could become widely recognized by healthcare professionals as an adjunct treatment for psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Meditation apps for IBD patients are available.

These apps offer guided meditations, breathing exercises, and stress management tools specifically beneficial for gut health, inflammation reduction, and emotional resilience.

The best free option appears to be “Insight Timer”. It offers:

• A large collection of free guided meditations (such as gut healing, relaxation, stress reduction)
• Body scan meditations (to help with digestive discomfort)
• Community support (for motivation)

And it recommends these meditations:

• "Healing the gut" by Michelle Chalfant
• "Guided Body Scan for Pain Relief"

The app is available for iOS and Android. It's free, although it offers optional paid courses.

“Calm” is best for stress and sleep management. It offers:

• Loving kindness meditations (to help reduce emotional triggers)
• Daily meditation reminders (to help build a consistent practice)

And it recommends these meditations:

• "Deep Belly Breathing for Gut Health"
• "Soothing Anxiety & the Nervous System"

The app is available for iOS and Android. And it's available in a free basic version, or a full access version for $69.99 per year.

“Headspace” is best for beginners and habit building. It offers:

• Structured meditation courses for stress, pain, and sleep
• Short, effective sessions (5 to 10 minutes per day) to fit easily into routines
• Scientific approach to gut brain relaxation
  
  

And it recommends these meditations:

• "Managing Chronic Illness"
• "Releasing Tension in the Body"

The app is available for iOS and Android. It offers a free trial, and after that the cost is $69.99 per year.

“Unyte — Interactive Meditation & Biofeedback” Is Best for Gut Brain Connection and Vagus Nerve Stimulation. It:

• Focuses on vagus nerve activation, which is key for reducing gut inflammation
• Uses biofeedback games to train the nervous system
• Helps manage chronic pain and IBS symptoms

And it recommends these features:

• "Resonant Breathing for Gut Health"
• "Biofeedback Exercises for Digestion"

​The app is available for iOS and Android. The subscription cost varies by program.

“Breathwrk” is best for breathing and digestive support. It offers:

• Guided breathing techniques to ease bloating, gut spasms, and anxiety
• Diaphragmatic breathing (which stimulates the vagus nerve, and calms the digestive system)
• Easy 1 to 5 minute exercises for stress relief anytime
  
  

And it recommends these breathing practices:

• "4-7-8 Breathing for Digestive Relaxation"
• "Diaphragm Expansion for Gut Healing"

The app is available for iOS and Android. The basic version is free, with premium options available.

Consider your primary goal when choosing a suitable app.

• If you want a free all-around meditation app — choose "Insight Timer"
• If you need help managing stress and sleep — choose "Calm"
• If you prefer structured meditation courses — choose "Headspace"
• If you're interested in gut brain biofeedback — choose "Unyte"
• If you want quick breathing tools for digestion — choose "Breathtwrk"

Reference

1. Maherm C., Tortolero, L., Jun, S., and Saez, I. (2025). Intracranial substrates of meditation-induced neuromodulation in the amygdala and hippocampus. PNAS, 122(6), e2409423122. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409423122