Mind-Tweak & Meditate Your Way To Heart Health

Meditation is one of my favorite mind-tweaks…. but it may tweak more than just your mind. Preliminary studies show that the benefits of meditation may include reducing the risks of heart failure.

In one test, a group of heart patients randomly were randomly assigned either Transcendental Meditation or general health education, as an addition to their standard treatment.
The TM group made measurable gains in tests of exercise capacity, quality of life and depression.
According to AllHeadlineNews another study in 2000 showed that practicing Transcendental Meditation may actually reduce the thickness of artery walls. Other research has demonstrated drops in blood pressure, and other stress related symptoms.

The DallasNews Religion blog makes some interesting points about the use of TM in these studies. Transcendental Meditation is the trademarked meditation of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and is taught in his schools, for a fee. Apparently some of the researchers are associated with the schools, which would account for why it is the meditation form used in the studies. In general, TM is not much different from traditional forms of traditional Buddhist and Hindu meditations. Most of these would likely have the same effects, and free instruction is available in many places, including on the web. I’ll post links in the next few days, for those who don’t care to pony up the money to worship with the Maharishi.

Meanwhile, here’s the link to the current study, as reported in Scientific American.