Maharishi Vedic vibration technology on chronic disorders and associated quality of life.

There is a growing interest for more effective, innovative programs to address the chronic illness suffered by approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new Maharishi Vedic Medicine program-the Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology-on the quality of life of individuals with chronic disorders. A total of 213 individuals took part in the study (mean age=48.55 years; average length of time of chronic illness=18.42 years). Results showed that over three sessions, the average self-reported improvement in chronic illness was 40.97 percent. Conditions related to neck pain improved the most (51.25%), followed by respiratory ailments (48.00%), digestive problems (46.90%), mental health, including anxiety and depression (46.34%), arthritis (41.57%), insomnia (37.38%), back pain (36.32%), headaches (35.83%), cardiovascular conditions (22.31%), and eye problems (21.19%). Findings also showed significant reductions in frequency of discomfort or pain (p<.000001), intensity of discomfort (p<.000001), and disabling effects of the discomfort in daily activity (p<.000001), in addition to overall improvement in mental health (p<.000001) and vitality (p<.000125). Possible mechanisms of action are presented.

Lower lipid peroxide levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress or free radical activity may contribute to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and other chronic diseases associated with aging. Because psychosocial stress has been shown to increase oxidative stress, we conducted an exploratory study to investigate the effects of stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation program on serum lipid peroxide levels in elderly subjects. METHOD: Forty-one normally healthy subjects (aged 56 to 74 years, average 67 years) were recruited from the same Midwest city. Eighteen were long-term practitioners of the TM program (average 16.5 years). Twenty-three controls were not practicing a formal stress management technique. Venous blood samples were analyzed for lipid peroxides by the TBARS assay. A dietary questionnaire was used to assess fat intake, red meat consumption, antioxidant vitamin supplementation, and smoking. Differences between groups and subgroups were analyzed by t test, and correlations. RESULTS: Significantly lower serum levels of lipid peroxides were found in the TM practitioners compared with controls (-15%, p = .026). No significant differences were found between groups on smoking, fat intake, or vitamin supplementation. TM practitioners also had lower red meat consumption but matched subgroup analysis and partial correlations did not confirm a relationship between red meat intake and lipid peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that lower serum lipid peroxide levels may be associated with stress reduction using the Transcendental Meditation technique. Prospective controlled trials are needed to confirm that this effect is because of TM practice rather than other lifestyle factors, such as diet.