Hundreds of these research studies have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including the journals of the American Medical Association and American Heart Association, along with The International Journal of Neuroscience, American Journal of Physiology, Science and many others.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted $26 million over the past 20 years for scientists to study the impact of the Transcendental Meditation program for the prevention and treatment of heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Competition for government research grants is considerable, and only the more promising fields of research continue to receive substantial funding year after year, over decades. It is precisely because there is a precedence of high-quality scientific research behind the Transcendental Meditation technique, conducted by reputable scientists around the world, that government research funding continues.
American Heart Association: A research study from the American Heart Association confirms that the Transcendental Meditation technique lowers blood pressure, and recommends the TM technique for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Report from the AHA's journal Hypertension: "All other meditation techniques (including mindfulness) received a 'no benefit level of evidence.’ Thus, other meditation techniques are not recommended.”
Randomized controlled trials: There have been 50 randomized controlled (or clinical) trials on the Transcendental Meditation technique — showing significant positive effects on intelligence, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and other areas.
Meta-analyses: Numerous meta-analyses, which examined 597 separate studies on a variety of meditation, relaxation and wellness practices, have found the Transcendental Meditation technique to be the most effective mind-body practice for producing deep physiological relaxation, reducing trait anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, decreasing cigarette, alcohol and drug use, improving psychological health, and increasing self-actualization. Meta-analysis is a qualitative procedure used by scientists to draw definitive conclusions from large bodies of research studies.
Support of medical doctors: The American Medical Association, which represents 140,000 medical doctors, has published and promoted research showing that the TM technique improves high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
"Transcendental Meditation is Good Science"—Pamela Peeke, M.D., National Institutes of Health; Doctor for the Discovery Channel:
Scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program—National Institutes of Health Senior Researcher Norman Rosenthal, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School:
