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

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

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

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

5. Forty Years of Research on the TM Technique

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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), , 2005

9. 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

10. Decreased Physiological Stress Meta-analysis of 32 studiesTM
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

11. Decreased Trait Anxiety Meta-analysis of 146 studiesTM
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: ,1989

12. Decreased Cigarette Use Meta-analysis of 131 studiesTM
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

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

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

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

16. 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

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

18. 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: , 2007

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

21. 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

22. 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 =
R. Herron, etal, J. Soc Behav Personality, 2001