5 PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH STUDIES ON TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION
A study by Wallace & Benson called “The Physiology of Meditation” published in Scientific American in 1972 has shown that during Meditation, the body rests 2-5 times more deeply than it does at the deepest point in a night’s sleep - indicating a unique state of deep rest.
Scientific American Volume 226, Issue 2 | Scientific American
2. A Study by JEVNING et al published in Hormones & Behavior in February 1978 showed significantly reduced plasma cortisol levels (a product of the Adrenal Gland / major stress hormone) during meditation. This shows the effectiveness of Meditation in eliminating stress. Meditation produces the antithesis of the Stress Response/ Fight-Flight Response: plasma cortisol is a hormone that has been related to stress and the change reported here is opposite to that commonly seen in the Stress Response.
Adrenocortical activity during meditation - ScienceDirect
3. In a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience in 1982 it was shown that meditators have the biological age of a person 5-12 years younger than the average population. Meditation was thus found to reverse the ageing process.
4. A Study in American Psychologist in Sept 1987 found that Meditators showed significantly lower plasma lactate levels (a chemical in the blood correlated with anxiety & high blood pressure) than non-meditators. This indicates greater relaxation.
Physiological differences between transcendental meditation and rest.
5. In a published Study (in the American medical journal, Psychosomatic Medicine, in 1987) covering a period of 5 years looking at medical insurance statistics of a major U.S. Health Insurance company, the average meditator, whether child, young adult or elderly saw a doctor half as often as the average American.
Meditators had:
- 87% less hospitalization for heart disease and
- 55% less for tumours
compared to non-meditators.
This study showed the ability of meditation to prevent disease and to reduce medical care costs.
Medical care utilization and the transcendental... : Psychosomatic Medicine