New papers on
Transcendental Meditation (TM)
for lowering hypertension and Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms
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Dear Colleagues,
Here is a newly reported scientific statement from the American Heart Association recommending TM practice for hypertension, and a new paper reporting that the practice is effective in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms in Congolese refugees.
1. TM recommended for hypertension by the American Heart Association.
An estimated 29% of American adults suffer from hypertension and it is projected to affect >1.5 billion people by 2025. It accounts for 13.5% of all deaths and half of all strokes and ischemic heart disease. The global hypertension-related public health burden is enormous.1
The American Heart Association just published a scientific statement on alternative approaches to reducing blood pressure, which included a critical evaluation of research on meditation techniques, including the Transcendental Meditation technique (TM). 1 Here is what they said about the TM technique and other meditation practices:
· “TM may be considered in clinical practice to lower BP.
· Because of many negative studies or mixed results and a paucity of available trials, all other meditation techniques (including MBSR) received a Class III, no benefit, Level of Evidence C recommendation .
· Thus, other meditation techniques are not recommended in clinical practice to lower BP at this time.”
MBSR refers to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Here is a link to the full report.
2. TM reduces PTSD symptoms in Congolese refugees.
The Second Congo War killed 5.4 million people and forced an estimated 80,000 refugees to flee. A new controlled study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress of Congolese refugees in a camp near Kampala, Uganda found that TM practice markedly reduced post-traumatic stress symptoms from the severe level to the normal level at the one month and 4.5 month posttests.2
Abstract: This matched single-blind pilot study tested the effect of Transcendental Meditation R [1] (TM) practice on symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) in Congolese refugees. Urban refugees (N = 102) staying around Kampala, Uganda attended introductory meetings. After initial random assignment to the TM group, 30 refugees who revealed that they were unable to attend all meetings were eliminated from the study. The remaining 21 TM group participants were then instructed in TM and matched with refugees in the control group on age, sex, and baseline scores on the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist–Civilian (PCL-C). All participants completed the PCL-C measure of PTS symptoms at baseline, and 30-day and 135-day posttests. The PCL-C scores in the control group trended upward. In contrast, the PCL-C scores in the TM group went from 65 on average at baseline
indicating severe PTS symptoms to below 30 on average after 30 days of TM practice, and remained low at 135 days. Effect size was high (d > 1.0). Compliance with TM practice was good; most reported regular practice throughout the study. There were no adverse events. All refugees who learned TM completed the study and were able to practice TM successfully, with subsequent substantial reduction in PTS symptoms.
1. Brook RD, Appel LJ, Rubenfire M, et al. Beyond medications and diet: Alternative approaches to lowering blood pressure : A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. 2013(61).
2. Rees B, Travis F, Shapiro D, Chant R. Reduction in post traumatic stress symptoms in Congolese refugees practicing Transcendental Meditation. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 2013:1-14.
All the best,
David
David W. Orme-Johnson, PhD
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