The body responds in a variety of ways to chronic stress. One phase of adapting to chronic stress is marked by having higher levels of the hormone cortisol. Chronically high levels of cortisol have numerous unwanted effects: fat accumulation around the waist, depressed immune function, lower bone density, lack of libido, and many others. A study conducted by the Shamatha Project at the University of California, Davis measured mindfulness in participants using a questionnaire before and after a three month long meditation retreat. They also measured salivary cortisol before and after the retreat. Overall mindfulness scores improved after the three month retreat. Cortisol levels dropped in those who had high levels, but not in those with normal levels. You wouldn't want cortisol to drop below normal, as that is a problem as well. This study shows a nice correlation between mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, which is involved in cortisol production. Intuitively it's not surprising that after a 3 month meditation retreat that there would be some positive changes both psychologically and physiologically.
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