Transcendental Meditation & Health David W. Orme-Johnson, Ph.D. Former faculty Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention Maharishi University of Management Fairfield, IA 52557

Transcendental Meditation (TM®) is from the Vedic Tradition of India, the oldest continuous tradition of human knowledge.

TM is a key aspect of Ayur Veda, a complete traditional system of preventative medicine.

The Transcendental Meditation Technique “Yoga is the least excited state of consciousness, pure consciousness.” Yoga-Sutra 1.2 —Patanjali 250 BC

Forty Years of Research on the TM Technique

Systemic Effects of TM Decreased Disease and Aging Restful Alertness Reduced Risk Factors Decreased Chronic Stress TM Program Activity TM Balance of Rest and Activity Improved Cognitive Function Decreased Acute Stress Improved Self- Regulation Improved Stress Resilience Brain Coherence Body Rebalance Restful Alertness

FDG-PET (N = 3) Baseline TM Practice Frontal Increase Thalamic Decrease Basal Ganglia Decrease Newberg, A., Travis, F., Wintering, N., Nidich, S., Alavi, A. & Schneider, R. Neural Imaging conference, Miami, Fl., 2006.

Increased EEG Phase Synchrony During TM Ss: Control (12), TM (15) Functional integration of distant cortical activity to enhance flow of information and global binding of elements of experience. TM Control Hebert, Lehmann, Tan, Travis, & Arenander, Signal Processing, 85(11), 2213-2232, 2005

Brainwave Coherence Concept Moral Emotional Learning Reasoning Neuromuscular Efficiency Self- Awareness Academic Performance Decreased Anxiety Development Inner Orientation Moral Reasoning Concept Learning Emotional Stability Neuroticism Intelligence Computational Creativity Brainwave Coherence

Decreased Physiological Stress Meta-analysis of 32 studies TM Rest Plasma Lactate Respiratory Rate Basal Skin Resistance 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Dillbeck & Orme-Johnson, American Psychologist 42:879-81, 1987

Decreased Trait Anxiety Meta-analysis of 146 studies TM Placebo Other Relaxation Relaxation Response Other Meditations PMR EMG-Biofeedback Mantra Meditation Concentration 0.5 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Eppley, Abrams, & Shear: J Clinical Psychology, 45:957-974,1989

Decreased Cigarette Use Meta-analysis of 131 studies TM Unconventional Treatment Pharmacological Treatment Individual Counseling Self-Help Kits 0.5 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Alexander, Robinson, & Rainforth, Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 11:13-87, 1994

Decreased Alcohol Use Meta-analysis of 97 studies TM Peer Influence Relaxation DUI Preventative Ed 0.5 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Alexander, Robinson, & Rainforth, Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 11:13-87, 1994

Decreased Drug Abuse Meta-analysis of 70 studies TM Peer Influence Preventive Ed 0.5 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Alexander, Robinson, & Rainforth, Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 11:13-87, 1994

Increased Self-Actualization Meta-analysis of 42 studies TM Other Relaxation Other Meditation 0.5 1 Effect Size (Standard Deviations) Alexander, Rainforth, & Gelderloos, J Social Behavior & Personality, 6:189-247, 1991

Decrease in Carotid Atherosclerosis Health Education + 0.10 Intima- Medial Thickness Adjusted mean changes in millimeters + 0.05 p < .038 - 0.05 Castillo-Richmond, et al.. Stroke 31: 568, 2000 TM - 0.10

TM & Metabolic Syndrome Paul-Labrador etal, Arch Int Med, 2006

Meta-analysis of Stress Reduction Programs in Patients with High Blood Pressure -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 TM PMR SBF RABF SM + relaxation * ** Blood Pressure Change Scores * p = .0002 ** p = .02 Rainforth, Schneider, Nidich, et al, Current Hypertension Reports 9:520-528, 2007

Decreased Medical Care Utilization TM: N = 2000 over 5 years compared to normative data and matched controls Orme-Johnson, Psychosomatic Medicine 59: 493-507, 1987; Orme-Johnson & Herron, American Journal of Managed Care 3(1): 135-144. 1997

Decreased Medical Care Utilization TM practitioners vs. the Norm Hospitalization Doctor Visits 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 300 Other TM p < .0001 p < .0001 200 Patient Days/1000 Members Outpatient Visits/1000 Members 100 0–18 19–39 40+ 0–18 19–39 40+ Age Age D. Orme-Johnson, Psychosomatic Medicine, 49:493–507, 1987

R. Herron, etal, J. Soc Behav Personality, 2001 Reduction in Health Care Cost Annual inflation-adjusted payments to private physicians for treatment Canada, >65 yrs age; all settings; N=163 p = 0.0017 R. Herron, etal, J. Soc Behav Personality, 2001