Choosing Meditation to Lower High Blood Pressure? New Research Reveals Which Meditation is Most Effective
December 27th, 2009 Posted in Alternative Medicine
Choosing Meditation to Lower High Blood Pressure?. A new scientific research study conducted at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine provides further evidence that people with high blood pressure can find relief through meditation—but the study also found that not all forms of meditation are equally effective. The study compared findings from research on several well-known types of meditation and relaxation practices, and found that the only mind/body practice that produces significant changes in blood pressure is the Transcendental Meditation technique.
According to a definitive new meta-analysis of 107 previous studies on stress reduction programs and high blood pressure, published in the American Journal of Hypertension (Vol. 21, 3: 310-316), the Transcendental Meditation technique was found to produce a statistically significant reduction in high blood pressure—an effect not found with other forms of relaxation, meditation, biofeedback or stress management.
Significant Reductions in Blood Pressure
The new meta-analysis reviewed randomized, controlled trials published in peer-reviewed scientific journals over the past decades concerning stress reduction and relaxation methods used by participants with high blood pressure. Blood pressure changes through the Transcendental Meditation technique included average reductions of 5.0 points of systolic and 2.8 points of diastolic blood pressure, changes which were statistically significant, according to the review. These changes associated with Transcendental Meditation practice were consistent with other controlled studies showing reductions in cardiovascular risk factors, improved markers of heart disease, and reduced mortality rates among participants in the Transcendental Meditation program.
Transcendental Meditation “equivalent to adding a second hypertensive agent”
“The magnitude of the changes in blood pressure with the Transcendental Meditation technique are at least as great as the changes found with major changes in diet or exercise that doctors often recommend,” said Dr. James Anderson, principal author of the study. “Yet the Transcendental Meditation technique does not require changes in lifestyle. Thus many patients with mild hypertension or prehypertension may be able to avoid the need to take blood pressure medications—all of which have adverse side effects. Individuals with more severe forms of hypertension may be able to reduce the number or dosages of their BP medications under the guidance of their doctor.”
Dr. Anderson stated further: “Adding Transcendental Meditation is about equivalent to adding a second hypertensive agent to one’s current regiment, only safer and less troublesome.”
Reduced Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
Anderson added that long-term changes in blood pressure of this magnitude are associated with at least a 15 percent reduction in rates of heart attack and stroke. “This is important to everyone because cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide,” Anderson said. The study’s biostatistician, Maxwell Rainforth, assistant professor of Physiology and Health Statistics at Maharishi University of Management, said the meta-analysis used state-of-the-art statistical methods to review 107 published studies in the field of stress reduction, relaxation and blood pressure. “The twenty-three separate studies included in the final analysis met well-known criteria for high scientific quality. That is, these studies used repeated blood pressure measurements and participants were randomized to either a stress reduction technique or placebo-type control for at least eight weeks. The data we used are all published in peer-reviewed scientific journals,” Rainforth said.
Side Benefits of TM vs. side effects of drugs
According to Dr. Robert Schneider, director of the Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention and co-author, this rigorously conducted meta-analysis indicates that the Transcendental Meditation technique is distinctively effective compared to other scientifically studied techniques in lowering high blood pressure. “For those 100 million Americans with elevated blood pressure, here is a scientifically documented, yet simple and easy way to lower blood pressure without drugs and harmful side effects. In addition, related studies show an integrated set of positive ’side benefits,’ such as reduced stress, reduced heart disease levels and longer lifespan with this technique to restore balance in the cardiovascular system, mind and body,” Schneider said.
Overturns a previous study on meditation
The new meta-analysis was co-authored by researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, in Louisville, and at the NIH-funded Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management in Iowa.
According to Dr. Anderson, the findings of this new study rebut a July 2007 report sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the NIH-National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which concluded that most research on meditation is low quality and found little evidence that any specific stress reduction effectively lowers blood pressure.
The new meta-analysis identified all high quality meditation studies published through 2006 and rigorously analyzed their results, which the previous government report failed to do. Anderson said the new meta-analysis includes only high quality studies on all available stress reduction interventions. The studies on the Transcendental Meditation technique were conducted at five independent universities and medical institutions, and the majority of them were funded by competitive grants from the National Institutes of Health.
alternative medicine high blood pressure
Watch the video related to alternative medicine high blood pressure
lloydwright.org Lloyd chats about healthy, non pharmaceutical remedies for high blood pressure and why it’s especially important if you’e got Hepatitis C.
Help answer the question about alternative medicine high blood pressure
My friend has diabetes,high blood pressure and is pregnant. Anyone has alternative medicine good for her?
About Author
Gary P. Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurologist and associate professor of clinical neurology at New York University School of Medicine. He is also a recipient of the Albert H. Douglas Award from the Medical Society of the State of New York for outstanding achievements as a clinical teacher interested in promoting and improving the medical education of physicians. http://www.doctorsontm.com/high-blood-pressure
alternative medicine high blood pressure
Tags: Alternative Medicine, high blood pressure, Hypertension, meditation
7 Responses to “Choosing Meditation to Lower High Blood Pressure? New Research Reveals Which Meditation is Most Effective”
By WPMixer on Dec 27, 2009
i am getting good results from Levodyn, i am feeling great and i am having good blood pressure since i started taking it.
By Tim McGlamery on Dec 27, 2009
A bit of red wine brings down blood pressure. In small amounts.
By Wordpress on Dec 27, 2009
Great information!
By Cathy N on Dec 27, 2009
There is no doubt that hyperexol will reduce your blood pressure a bit but just how much, that is the question. Just reducing it a bit may not be enough.
Try a web search for "high blood pressure" + "natural remedies".
A web search in Yahoo for hyperexol will turn up over 5,900 results.
By genesischild on Dec 27, 2009
Homeopathic Treatment for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) :-
Head remedy; with nervousness (during pregnancy use with care) Rauwolfia S.Q(Mother Tincture) 4 hourly
With depression; suicidal tendency; cardiac symptoms Aurum Met 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)
With arteriosclerosis and senile paresis Aurum Iod 30X, 6 hourly
With senility and senile behavioural changes Baryta Carb 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
Systolic pressure high and diastolic pressure very low Baryta Mur 3X or 6X, 4 hourly
With constriction in heart region and anginal pain Cactus G.Q(Mother Tincture) or 30X, 3 hourly
For fat and flabby patient; sweat on head, palms and soles, craving for eggs; chilly patient Calcarea Carb 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
In old age;old bachelors and old maids Conium Mac 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
Palpitations in slight exertion; dyspnoea, insomnia and gastric complaints Crataegus Ox.Q(Mother Tincture) or 30X 4 hourly
Due to shock (broken love affair etc) emotional disturbances Ignatia 200X or 1M 4 hourly(3 Doses)
Due to congestion in brain; severe headache, lassitude and dizziness Glonoine 3X or 6X, 1/2 hourly
Due to syphilitic origin; lancinating pain in head and bones Kali Iod.30X or 200X 4 hourly (3 Doses)
Due to gastric origin; flatulence; craving for sweets and warm food; worse 4 – 8 P.M. Lycopodium 30X or 200X, 4 hourly
Due to shock or grief; hyperthyroidism, goitre, addision's disease, diabetes ,etc. Desire for salt preparations Natrum Mur 200X or 1M 10 min (3 Doses)
In syphilitic cases; angina pectoris; vertigo, dyspnoea and endocarditis Natrum Iod.30X or 200X 10 min (3 Doses)
In tall, intelligent, hypertensive people; craves for icy cold things; fear of dark and stroms, etc. Phosphorus 30X or 200X 10 min (3 Doses)
With sclerotic degeneration specially of spinal cord Plumbum Iod 30X or 200X, 6 hourly
Due to grief; apprehension, dullness, loss of thirst etc. Gelsemium 30X or 200X, 3 hourly
During menopausal stage; worse after sleep; great loquacity Lachesis 30X or 200X, 4 hourly
Bursting pain in head; better by cold application, pressure, vertigo; palpitation of heart; worse when alone; sleeplessness with heaviness in head; oedematous swelling on face and legs Boerhaavia Diffusa Q (Mother Tincture) or 6X , 4 hourly
Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms. No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine
Take Care and God Bless !
By Vincent_7 on Dec 28, 2009
she needs to be seeing an obgyn who specializes in high risk pregnancies. she does not need to be looking into alternative medicine. she is carrying a child inside of her for goodness sakes. she should not do anything without consulting a doctor. a lot of alternative medicine that works when you are not pregnant can wreak complete havoc when you are pregnant and cause major damage to a fetus or cause spontaneous abortion.
By -doozer- on Dec 30, 2009
Homeopathic Treatment for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) :-
Head remedy; with nervousness (during pregnancy use with care) Rauwolfia S.Q(Mother Tincture) 4 hourly
With depression; suicidal tendency; cardiac symptoms Aurum Met 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)
With arteriosclerosis and senile paresis Aurum Iod 30X, 6 hourly
With senility and senile behavioural changes Baryta Carb 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
Systolic pressure high and diastolic pressure very low Baryta Mur 3X or 6X, 4 hourly
With constriction in heart region and anginal pain Cactus G.Q(Mother Tincture) or 30X, 3 hourly
For fat and flabby patient; sweat on head, palms and soles, craving for eggs; chilly patient Calcarea Carb 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
In old age;old bachelors and old maids Conium Mac 200X or 1M weekly (3 Doses)
Palpitations in slight exertion; dyspnoea, insomnia and gastric complaints Crataegus Ox.Q(Mother Tincture) or 30X 4 hourly
Due to shock (broken love affair etc) emotional disturbances Ignatia 200X or 1M 4 hourly(3 Doses)
Due to congestion in brain; severe headache, lassitude and dizziness Glonoine 3X or 6X, 1/2 hourly
Due to syphilitic origin; lancinating pain in head and bones Kali Iod.30X or 200X 4 hourly (3 Doses)
Due to gastric origin; flatulence; craving for sweets and warm food; worse 4 – 8 P.M. Lycopodium 30X or 200X, 4 hourly
Due to shock or grief; hyperthyroidism, goitre, addision's disease, diabetes ,etc. Desire for salt preparations Natrum Mur 200X or 1M 10 min (3 Doses)
In syphilitic cases; angina pectoris; vertigo, dyspnoea and endocarditis Natrum Iod.30X or 200X 10 min (3 Doses)
In tall, intelligent, hypertensive people; craves for icy cold things; fear of dark and stroms, etc. Phosphorus 30X or 200X 10 min (3 Doses)
With sclerotic degeneration specially of spinal cord Plumbum Iod 30X or 200X, 6 hourly
Due to grief; apprehension, dullness, loss of thirst etc. Gelsemium 30X or 200X, 3 hourly
During menopausal stage; worse after sleep; great loquacity Lachesis 30X or 200X, 4 hourly
Bursting pain in head; better by cold application, pressure, vertigo; palpitation of heart; worse when alone; sleeplessness with heaviness in head; oedematous swelling on face and legs Boerhaavia Diffusa Q (Mother Tincture) or 6X , 4 hourly
Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms. No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine
Take Care and God Bless !