News archive
April 2010: 2 new studies show TM reduces depression. –  These randomized controlled studies from the USA show significant reductions in depressive symptoms, with reductions of 48% found among those with clinically significant depression. An estimated 10% of South African adults suffer from long-term depression. Depression is not only debilitating in itself, but is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with even a moderate level of depressive symptoms associated with increased cardiac events. Full story and charts.
November 2009: TM prevents heart
attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease – In a study
presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in November, patients with coronary heart disease who practised
Transcendental Meditation had nearly 50% lower rates of heart attack,
stroke, and death compared to non-meditating controls. The 9-year
randomized control trial followed 201 African American men and women,
average age 59 years with narrowing of arteries in their hearts, who
were randomly assigned either to practise Transcendental Meditation or
to participate in a control group which received health education
classes in traditional risk factors such as dietary modification and
exercise. The trial was funded by the US government via a $3.8 million
grant from the US National Institutes of Health–National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute.
For press
release issued by the prestigious American Association
for the Advancement of Science click here.
For BBC news story click here.
The National Institutes of Health has just announced that it will
fund a further $1 million to
determine whether the stress-reducing Transcendental
Meditation technique can help patients with coronary heart disease
prevent future heart attacks, strokes and death. The study will use the most advanced non-invasive methods for measuring heart function – positron emission tomography (PET). Click here for full story.
TM reduces blood pressure,
anxiety, depression, and anger among at-risk college students
This new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension Dec 2009, was conducted at American University in Washington DC. It
followed 298 university students randomly allocated to either
Transcendental Meditation or wait-list control over a 3-month
intervention period. A subgroup of 159 subjects at risk for
hypertension was analyzed separately. At baseline and after three
months, subjects were assessed for blood pressure, psychological
distress, and coping ability. For the students at risk for developing
hypertension, significant improvements were observed in blood pressure,
psychological distress and coping. Compared to the control group,
students practising Transcendental Meditation showed reductions of 6.3
mm Hg in systolic and 4.0 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure. These reductions are associated with a 52% lower risk for development of hypertension in later years. For full story click here.
These findings from the USA
have
clear relevance for South Africa, where cardiovascular disease claims
more deaths than any other disease apart from HIV-AIDS. High blood
pressure, the main risk factor for heart disease, affects an estimated
25% of South Africans over the age of 15; meanwhile there is growing
concern over
an emerging epidemic of heart disease in the urban black population.
If
you would like some information to send to your doctor, please click here.
TM improves
symptoms of diabetes – African American women greatly improved
their condition of dyslipidaemia, the most common complication of
diabetes, characterized by low HDL (good) cholesterol and high
triglyceride levels, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
After one year the TM showed a 29% greater increase in HDL
cholesterol and a 20% greater drop in triglycerides than subjects in
the control group who followed a diet and exercise programme. Click here for full story.
October 2009
TM helps breast cancer patients: New international research published September 2009 in the peer-reviewed journal Integrative Cancer Therapies, involving 130 breast cancer patients, found that Transcendental Meditation reduced stress, and improved emotional well-being and mental health. Stress is known to contribute significantly to the onset and progression of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women. Click here to see a news article about the story. Click here to read our press release.
TM reduces depression. Top American psychiatry professor Dr Norman Rosenthal has just conducted research showing significant improvements in severe cases of depression after just 12 weeks practice of TM. He now plans a further study charting patients’ progress over one year. Click here to find a replay of a fascinating seminar held on 9 October entitled Overcoming Depression in a Recession, at which Dr Rosenthal was the principal speaker.
April 4, 2009
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and other famous musicians gave a benefit concert in New York entitled 'Change Begins  Within', in support of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, who want to teach Transcendental Meditation to one million schoolchildren around the world. Click here for more details.
30,000 children from South Africa could benefit from this initiative, as reported by Business Day
Transcendental Meditation was a stabilizing influence on our group, says Sir Paul McCartney – click here to read Reuters reports on this and on the concert itself.
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February 26, 2009
Is Transcendental Meditation the new medication for stressed university students?
A new study published 25th February 2009 in International Journal of Psychophysiology, shows improved brain integration in students practising Transcendental Meditation, together with reduced dullness, and greater adaptability to stressful situations.
Click here to view full story and pictures.
Click here to view abstract of published study. |
