Transcendental Meditation and Asthma

Wilson, Archie F.; Honsberger, Ronald; Chiu, John T.; Novey, Harold S.

doi:10.1159/000193637

Cited by 50 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…It seems that people practicing the TM technique, especially for long periods of time, tend to show lifestyles that are more beneficial by such criteria as smoking, exercise, and diet (19,21,28). Our findings further indicate that long-term meditators have lower systolic pressures.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…= 10.5). Transcendental Meditation, a simple mental technique introduced in the West by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1958, has been associated in a large number of studies with improvement in various health and psychological parameters (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), yet seems essentially free of negative sequelae (22). The TM-Sidhi program is an advanced group of techniques practiced in addition to the TM technique, which may be learned after at least 6 months of TM practice.…”

Section: Subjectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Systolic Blood Pressure and Long-Term Practice of the Transcendental Meditation® and TM-Sidhi Program: Effects of TM on Systolic Blood Pressure

Wallace

Silver

Mills

et al. 1983

Psychosomatic Medicine

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Systolic blood pressure was measured in 112 subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs. The subjects were between the ages of 35 and 64 years. A significant difference was found between the systolic blood pressures of subjects (matched for sex, race, and general educational background) practicing the TM and TM-Sidhi programs and norms for the general population. This difference was independent of diet and exercise patterns but related to length of time meditating. A significant difference was also found between short-term (under 5 years) and long-term (over 5 years) participants of the TM program, covarying for age. No previous reports exist concerning the long-term effects of the TM program on blood pressure. Despite methodological problems associated with cross sectional data, the findings suggest the beneficial effects of the long-term practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programs on systolic blood pressure. Even if self-selection plays a role, the characteristics of an easily identifiable group already showing traits beneficial to the general population deserves further study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Subjectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systolic Blood Pressure and Long-Term Practice of the Transcendental Meditation® and TM-Sidhi Program: Effects of TM on Systolic Blood Pressure

Wallace

Silver

Mills

et al. 1983

Psychosomatic Medicine

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“…One example of sufficient peripheral relaxation was provided by Glaus and Kotses [8, 9], who found a reliable correlation between facial muscle tension and airway caliber. Clinically significant improvements in pulmonary measurements have also been reported for mental relaxation techniques such as autogenic training or meditation [10, 11, 12]. Such studies document the role of relaxation in effecting change in the airway.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of ‘Functional Relaxation’ in Comparison to Terbutaline and a ‘Placebo Relaxation’ Method in Patients with Acute Asthma

Loew

Tritt

Siegfried³

et al. 2001

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: ‘Functional relaxation’ (FR) according to Marianne Fuchs is a body-oriented psychotherapy that involves teaching the patient a type of relaxation techniques aimed at maintaining equilibrium of the nervous system. Methods: In order to determine whether the practice of elementary parts of this therapy has an immediate beneficial effect on pulmonary function, a randomized, single-blind, prospective crossover study was done with 21 asthmatics with acute bronchoconstriction. On 3 consecutive days they were given either (1) a 5-min verbal standard instruction in elementary exercises of FR (eFR), which they were to practice during subsequent bodyplethysmographic measurement or (2) inhalative terbutaline (IT), a β₂-sympathomimetic drug, or (3) an unspecific ‘placebo relaxation’ technique (PRT), so that all subjects tried all 3 treatments in random order. Spirometric variables were assessed. Results: There was a significant decrease in specific airway resistance with eFR, which, though not as pronounced as with IT, was significantly greater than with PRT. This study shows that clinically relevant effects can be achieved for patients with asthma through mind-body interaction, which can be triggered by reproducible procedures. Conclusion: Further development of the FR approach could lead to a nonpharmacological and effective supplementary treatment for asthma, which is in high demand by many patients.

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“…The application of such an so that a more detailed and complete approach to better understand the under-understanding can be gained of the physlying physiologic mechanisms during the iologic basis of the state of pure conscious-TM and TM-Sidhi program is significant, ness, especially in the light of the reported beneficial effects of this program on physical and mental health (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26), biologic aging The authors wish to gratefully acknowl- (27,28), and psychophysiologic perform-edge Bill VeseJy, Suzanne Araas, and Walance (29)(30)(31)(32). We would suggest that this ter Wiese for their technical assistance, experimental approach be expanded and Leslie Petrick, Lotus Mahon, and Marthrough the addition of other physiologic iette Bourdeau for preparation of the manmeasurements such as organ blood flow uscript.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Respiratory Suspension Periods Occurring During the Practice of the Transcendental Meditation Program

Badawi

Wallace

Orme-Johnson

et al. 1984

Psychosomatic Medicine

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In a study designed to identify the electrophysiologic characteristics of the Transcendental Meditation Program, 52 periods of spontaneous respiratory suspension (RS) were observed in 18 subjects during the practice of this program. These periods were correlated with some but not all the subjective experiences of pure consciousness. Nineteen RS periods (belonging to 11 subjects) free from any artifact were selected for EEG analysis. The mean total EEG coherence over all frequencies and over nine derivations for TM subjects showed a significant increase during the RS periods as compared to pre- and post-RS control periods. There was no significant change in mean total EEG coherence in a control group of 30 subjects voluntarily holding their breath. The heart rate showed a significant decrease during the RS periods in both the experimental and control groups, whereas there was no significant change in EEG alpha power in either group. These findings extend those of previous studies and help characterize the physiologic correlates of the state of pure consciousness during the TM program.

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Transcendental Meditation and Asthma

Cited by 50 publications

References 6 publications

Systolic Blood Pressure and Long-Term Practice of the Transcendental Meditation® and TM-Sidhi Program: Effects of TM on Systolic Blood Pressure

Systolic Blood Pressure and Long-Term Practice of the Transcendental Meditation® and TM-Sidhi Program: Effects of TM on Systolic Blood Pressure

Efficacy of ‘Functional Relaxation’ in Comparison to Terbutaline and a ‘Placebo Relaxation’ Method in Patients with Acute Asthma

Electrophysiologic Characteristics of Respiratory Suspension Periods Occurring During the Practice of the Transcendental Meditation Program

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