While there are many venerable forms of meditation, scientific research shows that the various practices produce their own effects and that they do not all yield the same results as one another—nor are they seen to produce the same benefits associated with the Transcendental Meditation technique. Because of the many independent scientific studies showing the TM technique's holistic benefits and unique effectiveness for lowering high blood pressure, it is the only form of meditation recommended by the American Heart Association.
Different practices, different results: Most meditation practices involve attempts to concentrate or control the mind, to keep it focused on a specific object of meditation (such as a thought, mantra, one's breathing or other sensations). Some approaches might involve contemplation, visualization, watching your thoughts or trying to maintain a passive or non-judgmental attitude—all of which employ varying degrees of effort or sustained attention. Though these various approaches have their benefits, they tend to keep the mind active, engaged or localized, usually within the active realm of thinking.
The Transcendental Meditation technique is unique. It is effortless and involves no attempt to control the mind. The technique allows the mind to systematically transcend all mental activity to experience the deeply settled state of restful alertness or pure awareness. During this process, the brain functions with greater coherence and the body gains profound rest. The holistic benefits associated with TM practice result spontaneously from this experience of effortless transcending. Practices that keep the mind active or engaged on more surface levels have not been found to consistently produce the deep levels of rest or holistic range of benefits known to result from TM practice.
Dr. Vernon Barnes, Medical College of Georgia: "Comparative research has shown that the various forms of meditation do not produce the same effects. Because each kind of meditation practice engages the mind in it’s own way, there’s no reason to expect the same results from the various methods or that scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program will apply to other practices.
"There have been many studies looking at the effects of the TM technique, Zen, Mindfulness, Tibetan Buddhist and Vipassana meditations, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Benson’s Relaxation Response—examining such factors as brainwave patterns, levels of rest, and benefits for mind and body. While some other forms of meditation have been found to produce good effects in specific areas, these various practices have their own aims and are not necessarily intended to produce the broad range of benefits seen to consistently result from Transcendental Meditation.
"Neural imaging and EEG studies indicate that TM creates a unique brain pattern: it is the only meditation technique known to create widespread brainwave coherence. The TM technique also produces deeper rest than other practices, and studies show the technique to be more effective at reducing anxiety and depression and increasing self-actualization." VERNON BARNES, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Georgia Prevention Institute of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, which has received $1.5 million from the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on African American teens at risk for high blood pressure.
James Krag, MD, Clinical Psychiatrist, Veterans Administration: “Just as there are many kinds of medication, there are also many approaches that are termed ‘meditation.’ The vast majority of the more compelling research on meditation has been on the Transcendental Meditation technique—and the findings clearly indicate that the TM technique works better than other researched mental techniques to promote health. If research shows that a specific medication helps treat a disorder, it would be irresponsible and illogical to conclude that all medications help treat that disorder. In the same way, research on Transcendental Meditation should not be generalized to include other techniques also called ‘meditation.’ We should intelligently choose what works and what is supported by research.” James Krag, M.D., is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, recent president of the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, and former president of the Virginia Association of Community Psychiatrists. He is currently clinic psychiatrist with the Veterans Administration.
Life happens within the realm of three, ever-changing phases: waking, dreaming and sleeping. Yet most of us intuit there's more to human consciousness than what we ordinarily experience.
Scientists have long said each of the three major states of consciousness has its own distinct style of physiology and brain activity. Could there be a fourth major state of consciousness that likewise has its own physiological signature and brain pattern, a state that's been overlooked or forgotten?
What if the loss of this state were the cause for much of what ails us -- personally and collectively?
Transcendental Consciousness
Scientists first proposed the existence of a fourth state of consciousness in the early 1970s, when UCLA researchers discovered that people practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique shifted into a state never before seen in a physiology lab. In the history of science, if there has been a single, overarching moment of "East meets West," surely, it was this. The pioneering research appeared in Scientific American, American Journal of Physiology and the journal Science.1 The findings were expanded by numerous follow-up studies done at other research institutes and medical schools, establishing meditation as a new frontier of scientific research.2
The mind-body state associated with TM practice is very different from waking, dreaming or sleeping and distinct from other meditative states or ordinary relaxation.3 Your muscles become deeply relaxed while your breathing slows markedly. There's a sharp decrease in cortisol and plasma lactate. There's a natural re-balancing of biochemicals, such as serotonin. Changes in Galvanic skin response and other markers reflect a state of whole-body relaxation. But perhaps most interesting is what happens in the brain.
Neuroscientists know that when we're sleeping, our brain produces mostly delta waves, and during dreaming, theta. When we're awake, there can be a scattered mix -- beta, theta, gamma or even alpha. During TM practice there are widespread, high-amplitude alpha waves (10-12 Hz), which shows this is not merely a restful state, but restful alertness.4 More important, the alpha waves are rising and falling together, in phase. This EEG coherence -- strongest throughout the prefrontal cortex -- indicates brain functioning has become more holistic and integrated.5
Typically, during this fourth state, thoughts subside and one becomes increasingly more awake; the mind settles down and consciousness itself becomes primary. Meditators describe this as pure consciousness or unbounded awareness.
Why We Need to Transcend
"We propose that what happens during TM is a fourth state of consciousness, because it's very different from the other three states," says neurologist Gary Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D., of New York University School of Medicine. "After 40 years of research, we now know that TM produces a unique, wakeful, coherent state of deep rest -- physiologically the opposite of stress. The science also suggests that experiencing this state twice daily through TM is the key to maximizing well-being and overcoming stress."
The fourth state may be a new discovery for modern science, but knowledge of this state has existed for thousands of years in the traditions of yoga and meditation. In ancient Sanskrit, this state is called turiya, meaning "the fourth."
Experiencing the fourth state repeatedly over time is said to be the key -- the elusive "requisite stimulus," to borrow from William James -- for positive human transformation and full awakening of consciousness.
Transcendence Deprivation
When you're sleep deprived, you know what happens: alertness, reaction time, tolerance and appreciation of others and the world around you all diminish. You're not yourself, and you're probably less fun to be around.
Similarly, research shows that subjects deprived of dream state become anxious, confused, suspicious, withdrawn, irritable and have difficulty concentrating.
If we're hardwired to experience a natural, rejuvenating, fourth state of consciousness, what is the consequence of omitting this fourth state from daily life? Dr. Kaplan says: "There's a growing pandemic of stress. There's a healthcare crisis. As a nation we have widespread anxiety, depression, hypertension and stress-related disorders that costs us billions every year, with untold costs in human suffering. This is what happens when life is lived without the restorative experience of transcending. Human history becomes the story of stress and suffering."
Restoring the Fourth State: A Return to the Self
What happens to people who routinely experience transcendental consciousness?
Renowned author Norman E. Rosenthal was a senior researcher at the National Institutes of Health for 20 years. He's now clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School and oversees pharmaceutical trials. His new book, "Transcendence", is about what happens when you experience the fourth state twice daily. Dr. Rosenthal: "There's something about entering that state of transcendence twice a day that has a remarkable effect. In the morning, it seems to put the mind in a positive state for facing the day -- everything feels more manageable. In the evening, it seems to erase the accumulated burdens of the day, like grime off a windshield. When you enjoy transcendence twice a day, every day, the overall effect is to experience life as less stressful and more vibrant."
Iowa psychologist and TM instructor Patrick Pomfrey has used meditation as a clinical tool for decades, often prescribing it to patients. He sees transcending as the primary human mechanism for creating a higher state of mind-body health. "The ultimate goal of psychology is to develop the whole person," says Pomfrey. "But you cannot develop the whole person without including the whole person. To do this, each person must discover for themselves this lost experience of the fourth state."
Sages throughout history, from Laozi to Ralph Waldo Emerson, have sung the praises of this exalted "lost" state. Transcendental consciousness is the essence of who we are -- our inmost self. If we don't have an effective technique for diving deep within and taking our attention there, then this rich, vibrant field of all possibilities may remain virtually of no use to us. A person can live an entire lifetime not even knowing it exists.
Awakening to this state, we access a limitless wellspring of energy, creativity and intelligence. Even if we were already happy, when we start transcending we discover there's more to life than waking, dreaming and sleeping.
References:
1. Scientific American, 226, 84-90, 1972; American Journal of Physiology, 221, 795-799, 1971; Science, 167, 1751-1754, 1970
2. American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1989; Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 16(3): 415-424, 1992; The Journal of Mind and Behavior 10(4):307-334, 1989
3. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12, 297-299, 1998
4. International Journal of Neuroscience, 14: 147-151, 1981
5. Consciousness and Cognition, 8, 302-318, 1999; Cognitive Processing, 11:1, 2010
After fifty years of scientific investigation of the Transcendental Meditation technique, more than 800 scientific papers, research studies and reviews have substantiated holistic, beneficial effects for mind, body, behavior and society. These research studies were conducted at over 250 independent universities and research institutions in 33 countries — including independent research at leading medical schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale and UCLA.
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:
Decades of peer-reviewed scientific research has shown that the physiological state commonly experienced during the Transcendental Meditation technique is a much deeper, more coherent state of relaxation than the rest gained during ordinary eyes-closed rest (or the so-called “relaxation response”) — with the TM technique producing significantly greater decreases in oxygen consumption, respiratory rate, heart rate, muscle tension and blood pressure, and a greater increase in skin resistance — indicating a more relaxed state (American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1987).
Research has also shown that simple relaxation, even when practiced twice daily for 20 minutes, does not produce the same benefits as TM practice. For example, the TM technique has been found to reduce anxiety more than twice as much as ordinary relaxation (Journal of Clinical Psychology [45] 957-974, 1989). Randomized clinical trials on relaxation and meditation techniques found that the TM technique was the only mind-body practice to produce significant reductions in blood pressure for hypertensive patients (Current Hypertension Reports 9 (6): 520-528, 2007).
A 2013 report from the American Heart Association confirms that the Transcendental Meditation technique lowers blood pressure more effectively than other techniques of relaxation and meditation, 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.”
The Transcendental Meditation technique provides the experience of a unique state of physiological functioning, distinct from ordinary relaxation in many ways. Not only do many beneficial physiological changes occur during TM practice that are not present during ordinary rest or the relaxation response, but some of the physiological changes associated with the TM technique are in the opposite direction of ordinary relaxation — such as increased cardiac output (despite decreased heart rate), increased blood flow to the brain, and increased EEG coherence throughout the entire brain (American Journal of Health Promotion, 12, 297-299; 1998).
The Transcendental Meditation technique allows awareness to transcend thinking and settle deeply inward, to the most creative, blissful, and peaceful level of the mind — the state of pure consciousness or transcendental consciousness. This inner experience of consciously transcending mental activity, to a state of inner wakefulness, is very different from the subjective experience of ordinary relaxation.
Hundreds of scientific research studies support the principle that it is the transcending process during TM practice and not just mere relaxation that produces TM’s wide range of benefits for mind, body, and behavior — effects not found to result from the relaxation response or ordinary eyes-closed rest.
TM: An effective alternative to medication?
Parents and educators are searching for alternatives to the use of drugs for treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The mind-body practice widely known as the Transcendental Meditation technique is becoming more recognized an effective adjunct or alternative to ADHD medication.
Peer-reviewed scientific research studies show that the Transcendental Meditation technique improves focus, attentiveness, memory and decreases hyperactivity, anxiety and depression. It is easy to practice and results come immediately.
There is growing concern about negative side effects and long-term health outcomes associated with ADHD medications. Groundbreaking research is showing the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique as a non-drug approach to treating ADHD.
ADHD, the brain, and medication
Neuroscientists and researchers tell us that an imbalance in brain functioning can cause ADHD symptoms. The brain is made up of millions of cells that continually talk to each other, sending signals across the gaps between brain cells. The messenger molecules that carry these signals are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin regulate thinking, hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, memory, emotions, and depression.
The active ingredients in the most commonly used ADHD medications are amphetamines. As powerful stimulants, these amphetamines artificially increase the amount of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, speeding up brain activity. This is of great concern to medical researchers, doctors and parents. According to researchers, when the drugs flood the brain with these artificially produced neurotransmitters, the brain's ability to produce these neurotransmitters by itself is diminished. This can potentially cause the brain to suppress the natural growth and development of the brain cells that create the neural networks. The young brain isn’t given the chance to develop on its own and mature in its own functioning.[1]
How meditation works Unlike drugs, the Transcendental Meditation technique doesn’t just treat the symptoms, it influences the cause of the disorder. This means that the technique doesn’t create just a temporary effect, but can improve the condition permanently by reducing stress and creating more efficient and orderly brain functioning.
Scientific research studies published in such prestigious journals as the International Journal of Neuroscience[2], Psychophysiology and others [3] have shown that the TM technique creates widespread "EEG coherence " throughout all areas of the brain. Everything good about the brain depends on its efficient, orderly functioning. Scientists have found that this improved brain functioning through daily TM practice improves IQ, creativity, comprehension, memory and academic performance. People practicing the TM technique commonly report immediate relief from anxiety and hyperactivity, and greater ability to concentrate and focus in their daily life.
Under supervision of their doctors, patients with ADHD who learn the TM technique are often able to reduce or eliminate their medications within 3-6 months.
How the TM technique is different The TM technique is unique—distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness, and profound effectiveness. The technique is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day, while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It doesn't take years to master and can be easily learned by anyone, even children, in just a few days. The technique is non-religious and requires no change in lifestyle or belief—one doesn't even have to believe in it for it to work. Because the practice is effortless, you don't have to be able to concentrate or even sit still.
The TM technique allows awareness to naturally settle inward, transcending the busy activity of the mind, to a state of restful alertness. During the practice, the body gains deep relaxation—much deeper than ordinary relaxation.
Over 350 peer-reviewed scientific research studies have shown the TM technique to be the most effective mind-body practice for decreasing anxiety and depression and promoting self-actualization.
Many people with ADHD and other learning disorders have tried counseling and other forms of meditation, without desired results. With regular practice of TM, many are able to end their dependence on medications while thriving in school or work for the first time in their lives.
To view ABC, BBC and PBS video news clips on the use of the TM technique for treating students with ADHD, click here.
References:
1. http://www.adhd-tm.org/questions.html
2. Dillbeck M. C. and Bronson E. C. Short-term longitudinal effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on EEG power and coherence. International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981. 3. Travis F. Eyes open and TM EEG patterns after one and after eight years of TM practice. Psychophysiology 28 (3a): S58, 1991.
4. Travis F. and Miskov S. P300 latency and amplitude during eyes-closed rest and Transcendental Meditation practice.Psychophysiology 31: S67 (Abstract), 1994.
5. Travis F. Patterns of EEG coherence, power, and contingent negative variation characterize the integration of transcendental and waking states. Biological Psychology 61: 293-319, 2002.
6. Wallace R.K., et al. Modification of the paired H reflex through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. Experimental Neurology 79: 77-86, 1983.
7. Wallace R. K., et al. Modification of the paired H reflex through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. Experimental Neurology 79: 77–86, 1983.
8. Yamamoto S., et al. Medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulated cortex in the generation of alpha activity induced by Transcendental Meditation: A magnetoencephalographic study. Acta Medica Okayama, 60(1): 51-58, 2006.
9. Alexander C.N., et al. Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on stress reduction, health, and employee development: A prospective study in two occupational settings. Anxiety, Stress and Coping: An International Journal 6: 245-262, 1993.
10. Candelent T., et al. Teaching Transcendental Meditation in a psychiatric setting. Hospital & Community Psychiatry 26: 156-159, 1975.
11. Dillbeck M.C. The effect of the Transcendental Meditation technique on anxiety level. Journal of Clinical Psychology 33: 1076-1078, 1977.
12. Eppley K.R. et al. Differential effects of relaxation techniques on trait anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957-974, 1989.
13. http://www.doctorsontm.com/anxiety-adult
A new study suggests that the Transcendental Meditation technique could help improve brain functioning and reduce stress in students.
Fifty students took part in the trial at the American University, in Washington, DC. After ten weeks of meditation the students scored higher on performance tests, reported feeling more alert and said they coped better in difficult situations.
Josh Goulding, featured in this video, participated in the study and claims it has helped to get him off a cocktail of drugs he was taking to control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Click here to go to BBC video
This NBC News report from Washington, DC, aired on January 8th, 2009. It describes a study on the TM technique and Blood Pressure currently underway at Howard University Hospital, and includes some inspiring interviews with meditating participants. CLICK TO WATCH
The TM technique is unique — in practice and results. TM makes meditating easy, simple, and profound — and powerfully effective. It's professionally taught, in person, through private instruction and a series of classes with experienced, certified teachers. After you've learned, there's free, ongoing follow-up and support available for the rest of your life, at any TM center in the country. To find your closest certified teacher, visit TM.org.
Non-profit: helping others learn
Part
of every TM course fee funds someone to learn who can't afford to pay.
Over 500,000 people have learned the TM technique for free over the past
10 years — veterans with PTSD, inner city youth, the homeless, native
Americans on reservations, and others at risk for traumatic stress. More
about the course fees >>
Different practices, different results:
Numerous independent scientificstudies and meta-analyses have found that the many different kinds of practices called 'meditation' do not all produce the same effects as one another — or the same holistic benefits associated with the TM technique.
While almost all meditation practices are beneficial in some way, research comparing the TM technique to concentration practices, mindfulness meditation, contemplation, relaxation techniques, common mantra meditation, Zen, biofeedback and others has found the TM technique more effective at reducing stress and anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, facilitating cognitive growth, decreasing substance abuse, improving psychological health and developing self-actualization. (See comparative studies and reviews: http://www.tm.org/research-meta-analyses)
No other form of meditation has been found in long-term studies to reduce heart attack and stroke (study>). The TM technique is the only meditation practice recommended by the American Heart Association for reduction of hypertension — based on the Heart Association's own research into the effects of TM, mindfulness and various other practices.
Other methods of meditation engage the mind differently and require varying degrees of effort. The TM technique is a natural, effortless process of transcending, allowing the mind to spontaneously settle inward, beyond mental activity, to the deepest, most peaceful and revitalizing state of awareness—the state of inner wakefulness or restful alertness, one's inmost Self.
Why pay for TM when other meditations are cheaper or free?
Kulreet Chaudhary
Kulreet Chaudhary, MD: It's great that meditation has become mainstream and so many people want to embrace it and even teach it. However, the Transcendental Meditation technique is not the same kind of meditation that you learn down at the Y or at your yoga class (unless your yoga studio has partnered with a certified TM teacher). Those forms of meditation can be helpful, but they're very different from the TM technique.
The TM technique is not just a practice of watching your breath, concentrating or contemplating. It's an effortless, natural technique for transcending, for going beyond thought to tap your deepest inner reserves of creativity, intelligence and well-being, directly enlivening your body's innate healing mechanisms. It's easy to learn but requires a qualified teacher.
Transcendental Meditation is taught by teachers whose training is as rigorous, committed and specialized as the training I underwent to become a licensed physician. These teachers offer a tested and proven gift of preventive health care, an authentic technology for developing consciousness. I'd say their service to society is at least as valuable as that of doctors or other highly trained professionals.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is Medical Director of Wellspring Neurology at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California.
David Orme-Johnson, PhD: The generic word 'meditation' refers to a general set of practices—many of them only loosely related, if at all—not to an agreed upon practice with recognized industry standards or procedures. As one would expect, there is a great range of results among the various meditation practices. As a researcher, I have seen some programs showing great promise, and others, well, not so much. The truth is, not all meditation practices are equal—at least according to science.
My work has focused primarily on the Transcendental Meditation technique, and we have seen some very exciting results over the past 40 years.
The American Heart Association, for example, recently issued a scientific review for doctors, recommending the TM technique, specifically stating that other practices have not been found to reduce high blood pressure(1).
Recent studies have shown that not all meditation techniques improve PTSD symptoms or depression(2), whereas the TM technique has been found to be highly effective in this area(3,4) Research shows that certain types of meditation actually worsen the cardiovascular system's reaction to stress(5), whereas the TM technique is found to improve it(6).
There is considerable evidence that TM practice reduces medical care utilization and costs(7,9), and a recent 10-year randomized controlled trial showed that the TM technique decreased heart attacks, strokes, and death by 48% compared to controls(10). No other meditation technique has been found to show these long-term effects.
After more than four decades of research on different types of meditation, there is now sufficient evidence for health professionals to distinguish between the effectiveness of the various meditation practices, and to truly take an evidence-based approach in prescribing meditation to their patients. David Orme-Johnson is one of the principal researchers in the world on meditation and its
effects, having published over 100 studies, mostly in peer-reviewed journals. He has been asked to review the meditation research on chronic pain
and insomnia by a National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment
conference, and has traveled to over 56 countries to speak
on meditation research to scientific conferences, the
press, program directors, government officials, members of Congress,
parliaments, heads of state, and the United Nations.
REFERENCES: 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. Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, et al. Effects of participation in a mindfulness program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled pilot study. J Clin Psychol 2012;69(1):14-27. 3. Brooks JS, Scarano T. Transcendental Meditation and the treatment of post-Vietnam adjustment. J Couns Dev 1985;64:212-215. 4. 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. 5. Grant C, Hobkirk A, Persons E, et al. Cardiovascular reactivity to and recovery from stressful tasks following a mindfulness analog in college students with a family history of hypertension. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2012;18:1-6. 6. Barnes VA, Treiber FA, Davis H. Impact of Transcendental Meditation on cardiovascular function at rest and during acute stress in adolescents with high normal blood pressure. J Psychosom Res 2001;51(4):597-605. 7. Orme-Johnson DW. Medical care utilization and the Transcendental Meditation program. Psychosom Med 1987;49:493-507. 8. Orme-Johnson DW, Herron RE. An innovative approach to reducing medical care utilization and expenditures. The American Journal of Managed Care 1997;3(1):135-144. 9. Herron R, Hillis S. The impact of the Transcendental Meditation program on government payments to physicians in Quebec: An update. Am J Health Promot 2000;14(5):284-293. 10. Schneider RH, Grim CE, Rainforth MA, et al. Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Randomized controlled trial of Transcendental Meditation and health education in Blacks. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2012;2(5). __________________________________________________________________
A study published in the journal Current Issues in Education suggests that the Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-drug treatment for ADHD.
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless mental technique practiced 10-20 minutes twice daily, sitting quietly and comfortably in a chair with the eyes closed. The TM technique can be easily learned by anyone and is enjoyable to practice.The benefits of the TM technique are immediate and increase over time. The technique’s positive effects—for mind, body and relationships—have been verified by hundreds of research studies conducted at top medical schools and published in over 350 peer-reviewed scientific journals.
ADHD and the brain
Neuroscientists and researchers tell us that an imbalance in brain functioning can cause ADHD symptoms. The brain is made up of millions of cells that continually talk to each other, sending signals across the gaps or synapses between brain cells. The messenger molecules that carry these signals are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin regulate thinking, hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, memory, emotions, and depression.
How medications work
The active ingredients in the most commonly used ADHD medications are amphetamines. As powerful stimulants, these amphetamines artificially increase the amount of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, speeding up brain activity. This is of great concern to doctors and parents. According to researchers, when the drugs flood the brain with these artificially produced neurotransmitters, the brain's ability to produce these neurotransmitters by itself is diminished. This can potentially cause the brain to suppress the natural growth and development of the brain cells that create the neural networks. The young brain isn’t given the chance to develop on its own and mature in its own functioning.[1]
How meditation works
The Transcendental Meditation technique doesn’t just treat the symptoms or create just a temporary effect, but can improve the condition permanently by reducing stress and creating more efficient and orderly brain functioning. Scientific research studies published in such prestigious journals as the International Journal of Neuroscience[2], Psychophysiology and others[3]have shown that the TM technique creates widespread "EEG coherence " throughout all areas of the brain. Everything good about the brain depends on its efficient, orderly functioning. Scientists have found that this improved brain functioning through daily TM practice improves IQ , creativity, comprehension, memory and academic performance. People practicing the TM technique commonly report immediate relief from anxiety and hyperactivity, and greater ability to concentrate and focus in their daily life. Under supervision of their doctors, patients with ADHD are often able to reduce or eliminate their medications within 3-6 months. How the TM technique is different
The TM technique is unique—unlike all other forms of meditation—distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness, and profound effectiveness. The technique doesn't take years to master and can be quickly and easily learned by anyone, even children. The technique is non-religious and requires no change in lifestyle or belief—one doesn't even have to believe in it for it to work.
Because the practice is effortless, you don't have to be able to concentrate or even sit still.
The TM technique allows awareness to naturally settle inward, transcending the busy activity of the mind, to a state of restful alertness. During the practice, the body gains deep relaxation—much deeper than ordinary relaxation or other meditation practices. Over 350 peer-reviewed scientific research studies have shown the TM technique to be the most effective mind-body practice for decreasing anxiety and depression and promoting self-actualization.
People with ADHD and other learning disorders are turning to the TM technique in growing numbers and finding relief from tension and restlessness within just a few days. Many of these people have tried counseling and other forms of meditation, without desired results, but with regular practice of the TM technique have been able to end their dependence on medications while thriving in school or work for the first time in their lives.
As concern for the long-term side effects of medication grows, it is worthwhile to become more informed about this healthy and practical approach for managing ADHD.
To view a PBS special feature on the effects of the TM technique for treating ADHD, click here.
To view ABC and NBC video news clips on the use of the TM technique for treating students with ADHD, click here.
http://www.adhd-tm.org/questions.html
Dillbeck M. C. and Bronson E. C. Short-term longitudinal effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on EEG power and coherence. International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.
Travis F. Eyes open and TM EEG patterns after one and after eight years of TM practice. Psychophysiology 28 (3a): S58, 1991. Travis F. and Miskov S. P300 latency and amplitude during eyes-closed rest and Transcendental Meditation practice.Psychophysiology 31: S67 (Abstract), 1994. Travis F. Patterns of EEG coherence, power, and contingent negative variation characterize the integration of transcendental and waking states. Biological Psychology 61: 293-319, 2002. Wallace R.K., et al. Modification of the paired H reflex through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. Experimental Neurology 79: 77-86, 1983. Wallace R. K., et al. Modification of the paired H reflex through the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. Experimental Neurology 79: 77–86, 1983. Yamamoto S., et al. Medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulated cortex in the generation of alpha activity induced by Transcendental Meditation: A magnetoencephalographic study.Acta Medica Okayama, 60(1): 51-58, 2006.
Alexander C.N., et al. Effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on stress reduction, health, and employee development: A prospective study in two occupational settings. Anxiety, Stress and Coping: An International Journal 6: 245-262, 1993. Candelent T., et al. Teaching Transcendental Meditation in a psychiatric setting. Hospital & Community Psychiatry 26: 156-159, 1975. Dillbeck M.C. The effect of the Transcendental Meditation technique on anxiety level. Journal of Clinical Psychology 33: 1076-1078, 1977. Eppley K.R. et al. Differential effects of relaxation techniques on trait anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957-974, 1989.
While there are many venerable forms of meditation, scientific research shows that the various practices produce their own effects and that they do not all yield the same results as one another—nor are they seen to produce the same benefits associated with the Transcendental Meditation technique. Because of the many independent scientific studies showing the TM technique's holistic benefits and unique effectiveness for lowering high blood pressure, it is the only form of meditation recommended by the American Heart Association. 
Dr. Vernon Barnes, Medical College of Georgia: "Comparative research has shown that the various forms of meditation do not produce the same effects. Because each kind of meditation practice engages the mind in it’s own way, there’s no reason to expect the same results from the various methods or that scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program will apply to other practices. 
