Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs

26 papers found

• 1987· Journal of Psychosomatic Research· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Mills, P. J.; Schneider, R.; Hill, D.; Walton, K.; and Wallace, R. K. Lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors and cardiovascular responsivity in TM participants and Type A behavior. Summary of a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, March, 1987. Refer also to findings published in Psychosomatic Medicine 49: 211, 1987 and Journal of Psychosomatic Research 33(6), 1989.

  At rest and in response to stress tests, Transcendental Meditation participants maintained lower levels of blood pressure and other physiological indices of stress.

  • Biochemical: Lower Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity
  • Response to Stress: Lower Blood Pressure Reactivity to Stress
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Lower Resting Blood Pressure
  • + 1 more findings
• 1987· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Schneider, R. H.; Mills, P. J.; Schramm, W.; and Wallace, R. K. Luteinizing hormone: A marker for Type A behavior and its modification by the Transcendental Meditation Program. Psychosomatic Medicine 49: 212–213, 1987. Findings also published in Neuroendocrinology Letters 9: 181, 1987.

  The Type A behavior pattern is considered by some to be a risk factor for heart disease. However, Type A subjects who practiced the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program showed more normal hormone levels and reactivity to stress.

  • Biochemical: Normal Neuroendocrine Reactivity
  • Biochemical: Healthy Neuroendocrine Pattern in Type A Subjects Practicing the Transcendental Meditation program
• 1989· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 5
  Smith, D. E.; Glaser, J. L.; Schneider, R. H.; and Dillbeck, M. C. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program. Psychosomatic Medicine 51: 259, 1989. Findings also published in AGE 10(4): 160, 1987.

  Participants in the Transcendental Meditation program showed lower blood sedimentation rates than controls, which is associated with good health and younger biological age.

  • Health—Aging: Lower Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Levels Indicating Less Serious Illness and Slower Aging
• 1990· Journal of Psychosomatic Research· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Mills, P.J.; Schneider, R.H.; Hill, D.; Walton, K.G.; and Wallace, R.K. beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in subjects practicing Transcendental Meditation. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 34: 29–33, 1990.

  This study found that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique show reduced sensitivity to stress hormones.

  • Biochemical: Reduced Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity
• 1992· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Schneider, R. H.; Alexander, C. N.; and Wallace, R. K. In search of an optimal behavioral treatment for hypertension: A review and focus on Transcendental Meditation. In Personality, Elevated Blood Pressure, and Essential Hypertension, eds. E. H. Johnson, W. D. Gentry, and S. Julius, pp. 291-312. Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Corp., 1992.

  This paper reviews the body of research papers on the benefits of the Transcendental Meditation program for reduction of hypertension, focusing in detail on two controlled clinical trials showing decreased hypertension among the elderly. The authors examine the Transcendental Meditation technique in light of requirements for an optimal behavioral treatment of hypertension.

  • Review Paper—Health: Review Paper—Health
• 1994· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Wenneberg, S. R.; Schneider, R. H.; MacLean, C. R. K.; Levitsky, D. K.; Walton, K. G.; Mandarino, J.; and Waziri, R. The effect of Transcendental Meditation on ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular reactivity. Psychosomatic Medicine 56: 168, 1994 (Abstract).

  A randomized longitudinal study of ambulatory blood pressure (monitoring of blood pressure during the day’s activity) found that those who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed a reduction of mean ambulatory diastolic blood pressure, to lower normal levels, without loss of blood pressure reactivity.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Decreased Mean Diastolic Ambulatory Blood Pressure
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Maintenance of Blood Pressure Reactivity
• 1994· Homeostasis· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Alexander, C. N.; Robinson, P.; Orme-Johnson, D. W.; Schneider, R. H.; and Walton, K. G. The effects of Transcendental Meditation compared to other methods of relaxation and meditation in reducing risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. Homeostasis 35: 243–263, 1994.

  This paper reviews four meta-analyses that show the superiority of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation program compared to other techniques in producing deep rest, decreasing anxiety, increasing self-actualization, and decreasing substance abuse (cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol). It also reviews individual well-controlled studies on the beneficial effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on hypertension, mortality, medical care, and medical expenses, and discusses physiological mechanisms for these effects.

  • Review Paper—Health: Review Paper—Health
• 1995· Hypertension· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Schneider, R. H.; Staggers, F.; Alexander, C. N.; Sheppard, W.; Rainforth, M.; Kondwani, K.; Smith, S.; and King, C. G. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans. Hypertension 26: 820–827, 1995.

  Hypertensive individuals who learned the Transcendental Meditation program displayed reductions of high systolic and diastolic blood pressure after three months, in comparison to those practicing muscle relaxation and in comparison to controls receiving education about lowering blood pressure through modifying their lifestyle.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Subjects
• 1996· Circulation· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Alexander, C.; Barnes, V.; Schneider, R.; Langer, E.; Newman, R.; Chandler, H.; Davies, J.; and Rainforth, M. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the elderly: Results of 8 year and 15 year follow-ups. Circulation 93: 629, 1996 (Abstract).

  This long-term follow-up study found that elderly persons who had learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed significantly increased longevity, compared to those randomly assigned to participate in other programs. Those who had learned the Transcendental Meditation program also showed less cardiovascular mortality.

  • Health—Aging: Increased Longevity (Higher Survival Rate)
  • Health—Aging: Higher Survival Rate Among Those with Cardiovascular Mortality
• 1996· Hypertension· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Alexander, C. N.; Schneider, R. H.; Staggers, F; Sheppard, W.; Clayborne, B. M.; Rainforth, M.; Salerno, J.; Kondwani, K.; Smith, S.; Walton, K. G.; and Egan, B. Trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans: II. Sex and risk subgroup analysis. Hypertension 28: 228–237, 1996.

  This study found that the Transcendental Meditation program reduced high systolic and diastolic blood pressure among all subgroups of hypertensive patients—both men and women, and both high and low psychosocial stress subjects—in contrast to control subjects. Those participating in the Transcendental Meditation program, irrespective of their subgroup on five other risk measures for high blood pressure—obesity, alcohol use, physical inactivity, dietary sodium-potassium intake, and an overall index of all risk factors—also showed reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison to control subjects.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Found for both Men and Women, and both High and Low Psychosocial Stress Subjects who Learned the Transcendental Meditation program
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction of High Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Irrespective of Score on Five Other Measures of Risk for High Blood Pressure—Obesity, Alcohol Use, Physical Inactivity, Dietary Sodium-Potassium Intake, and Index of All Risk Factors Combined
• 1996· The American Journal of Managed Care· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Herron, R. E.; Schneider, R. H.; Mandarino, J. V.; Alexander, C. N.; and Walton, K. G. Cost-effective hypertension management: Comparison of drug therapies with an alternative program. The American Journal of Managed Care 2: 427–437, 1996.

  This study found that among those suffering from mild hypertension, regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique was a more cost-effective single means of reducing high blood pressure than the use of antihypertensive drug treatment.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Greater Cost-Effectiveness for Hypertension Management through Transcendental Meditation program in Comparison to Drug Therapies
• 1996· The American Journal of Cardiology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 6
  Zamarra, J.W.; Schneider, R. H.; Besseghini, I.; Robinson, D. K.; and Salerno, J. W. Usefulness of the Transcendental Meditation program in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. The American Journal of Cardiology 77: 867–870, 1996.

  Patients with coronary artery disease who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed in contrast to controls improved cardiovascular functioning—greater exercise tolerance, higher maximal workload, delayed onset of ST-segment depression, and decreases in rate-pressure product during exercise.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Improved Exercise Tolerance—Increased Exercise Duration in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Increased Maximal Workload in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Greater Delay of Onset of ST Depression During Exercise in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
  • + 1 more findings
• 1997· Psychoneuroendocrinology· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  MacLean, C. R. K.; Walton, K. G.; Wenneberg, S. R.; Levitsky, D. K.; Mandarino, J. P.; Waziri, R.; Hillis, S. L.; and Schneider, R. H. Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on adaptive mechanisms: Changes in hormone levels and responses to stress after 4 months of practice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 22: 277–295, 1997.

  This experimental study found that those who learned the Transcendental Meditation technique, in contrast to controls who took a stress education class, showed after four months of practice a more adaptive response to stress, as measured by increased cortisol responsiveness to stressors together with reduced basal cortisol and reduced average cortisol. Findings on other hormones also differen­tiated the Transcendental Meditation and stress education groups.

  • Response to Stress: More Adaptive Pattern of Cortisol in Relation to Stress: Decreased Basal Cortisol and Average Cortisol, Increased Cortisol Responsiveness to Stressors
  • Response to Stress: Response to Stressors Different than Controls for Other Hormones (Growth Hormone and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
• 1997· International Journal of Neuroscience· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Wenneberg, S. R.; Schneider, R. H.; Walton, K. G.; Maclean C. R.; Levitsky, D. K.; Salerno, J. W.; Wallace, R. K.; Mandarino, J. V.; Rainforth, M. V.; and Waziri, R. A controlled study of the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on cardiovascular reactivity and ambulatory blood pressure. International Journal of Neuroscience 89: 15–28, 1997.

  Individuals randomly assigned to learn the Transcendental Meditation program showed a significant reduction of average ambulatory diastolic blood pressure over a period of four months in contrast to control subjects randomly assigned to participate in a stress education program.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduction in Ambulatory Diastolic Blood Pressure
• 1997· Journal of the National Medical Association· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Barnes, Vernon; Schneider, Robert; Alexander, Charles; and Staggers, Frank. Stress, stress reduction, and hypertension in African Americans: An updated review. Journal of the National Medical Association 89: 464–476, 1997.

  The authors review research on the causes of high levels of hypertension in African Americans, and studies indicating that the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces stress and hypertension.

  • Review Paper—Health: Research Review—Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Behavioral Stress Reduction and Hypertension
• 1998· Psychosomatic Medicine· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Schneider, R. H.; Nidich, S. I.; Salerno, J. W.; Sharma, H. M.; Robinson, C. E.; Nidich, R. J.; and Alexander, C. N. Lower lipid peroxide levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program. Psychosomatic Medicine 60: 38–41, 1998.

  Elderly participants in the Transcendental Meditation program displayed significantly lower serum levels of lipid peroxides in comparison to controls. Other research has found oxidative stress (free radical activity) to be associated with the aging process, and the lower lipid peroxide levels found in this study may be an indicator of more healthy physiological aging.

  • Biochemical: Lower Level of Plasma Lipid Peroxides
• 1999· Ethnicity & Disease· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Calderon, Raul, Jr.; Schneider, Robert H.; Alexander, Charles N.; Myers, Hector F.; Nidich, Sanford I.; and Haney, Chinelo. Stress, stress reduction, and hypercholesterolemia in African Americans: A review. Ethnicity & Disease 9: 451–462, 1999.

  The authors review studies indicating that the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces stress and reduces risk factors for coronary heart disease, including hypercholesterolemia.

  • Review Paper—Health: Research Review—Reduction of Stress and Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors
• 2000· Stroke· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Castillo-Richmond, A.; Schneider, R. H.; Alexander, C. N.; Cook, R.; Myers, H.; Nidich, S.; Haney, C.; Rainforth, M.; and Salerno, J. Effects of stress reduction on carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive African Americans. Stroke 31: 568–573, 2000.

  Hypertensive individuals randomly assigned to learn the Transcendental Meditation program, in contrast to a health education control group, displayed significant reduction of carotid intima-media thickness over a six to nine month period.

  • Health—Cardiovascular: Reduced Carotid Atherosclerosis
• 2002· Behavioral Medicine· Research Review· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Walton, Kenneth G.; Schneider, Robert H.; Nidich, Sanford I.; Salerno, John W.; Nordstrom, Cheryl K.; and Merz, C. Noel Bairey. Psychosocial stress and cardiovascular disease. Part 2: Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in treatment and prevention. Behavioral Medicine 28: 106–123, 2002.

  The authors review research on the Transcendental Meditation program indicating reduction of physiological indicators of stress, and demonstrating reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, morbidity, and mortality.

  • Review Paper—Health: Research Review—Reduced Stress and Reduced Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Mortality
• 2004· Annals of the New York Academy of Science· Empirical· Collected Papers Vol. 7
  Walton, K.G.; Fields, J.Z.; Levitsky, D.K.; Harris, D.A.; Pugh, N.D.; and Schneider, R.H. Lowering cortisol and CVD risk in postmenopausal women: A pilot study using the Transcendental Meditation program. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1032: 211–215, 2004.

  Older women participating in the Transcendental Meditation program were found to have reduced cortisol response to a metabolic stressor, in contrast to matched control subjects. Length of time participating in the Transcendental Meditation program was also found to be correlated with lower cardiovascular risk factors among this group.

  • Response to Stress: Lower Cortisol Response to Stress
  • Health—Cardiovascular: Lower Levels of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Correlated with Length of Practice of Transcendental Meditation