Neuroscience

Effects of meditation on disease processes

Does the consistent practice of "mental silence" techniques have therapeutic effects on physical disease?

Asthma

We have conducted a randomized trial of Sahaja Meditation mental silence techniques compared to stress management as part of the management programme for sufferers for moderate to severe asthma. After 12 weeks of instruction in either Sahaja Meditation or stress management subjects were assessed and compared to baseline. The asthma sufferers in the Sahaja Meditation group manifested significantly greater improvements in objective measures of disease severity (airway hyperresponsiveness, HR) and emotional state (POMS). This indicates that Sahaja Meditation, and especially the state of mental silence associated with it, can have a measurable and practically relevant impact on physical disease.

Menopausal Symptoms

At the Sydney Menopause Centre, Royal Hospital for Women, Australia SYM has been used instead of HRT for the management of menopausal hot flushes. After 8 weeks of SYM instruction average improvement was similar to that expected from HRT. Meditation is an attractive option for women because they prefer non-pharmacological treatments, thereby avoiding the risks associated with taking hormones.

ADHD

ADHD is an increasingly common problem in western countries. At the moment the most effective way of controlling ADHD behaviour in children is with stimulant medication. Unfortunately, despite the fact that medication is effective, many families are looking for alternative options because of the significant side effects that thse medications can have. A 6 week experimental clinic using SYM for children with ADHD led to a 30% improvement in ADHD symptoms. A number of children no longer needed medication and formal assessments indicated that their behaviuor and learning had drastically improved.