Category: Physiology

A wakeful hypometabolic state may be induced by simple, non-cultic mental techniques or by traditional meditational practices. The hypometabolic state seems to represent an integrated hypothalamic response ("relaxation response") which is consistent with a state of decreased sympathetic-nervous-system activity. A prospective investigation was designed to test whether regular elicitation of the relaxation response might lower blood-pressures in hypertensive patients who were maintained […]

Supported, in part, by grants from the United States Public Health Service (HL 14486-01, HL 10539-06, and RR-76 front the General Clinical Research Centers Program of the Division of Research Resources), the General Service Foundation, the Headache Research Foundation, and the Sandoz Foundation, Inc.

Mental states can markedly alter physiologic function. Hypermetabolic physiologic states, with an increased oxygen consumption, accompany anticipated stressful situations. Hypometabolic physiologic changes, other than those occurring during sleep and hibernation, are more difficult to produce. The present investigation describes hypometabolic and other physiologic correlates of a specific technique of meditation know as "transcendental meditation". Thirty-six subjects were studied, ea […]

Background Transcendental meditation (TM) is a stress reduction technique that can potentially lower blood pressure (BP) safely. The American Heart Association recommends that TM may be considered in clinical practice. Objective To provide an overview of all systematic reviews and meta-analyses of TM on BP for evidence-informed clinical decision making. Method Systematic searches of PubMed, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO for all systematic rev […]

A prospective investigation was designed to test whether the altered behavior of the regular practice of a relaxation, meditational technique might lower blood pressure in 22 borderline hypertensive subjects. The investigation was unbiased with regard to the presence of antihypertensive agents; subject familiarity with blood pressure measurement or with the observer; observer error; and the effects of blood pressure variability. During the control period, blood pressures averaged 146. […]