Evaluating the Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Stress Reduction: A Comparative Controlled Clinical Study
Keywords:
Anxiety, Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Stress, Transcendental MeditationAbstract
Introduction: Stress is a major contributor to psychological disorders and cardiovascular morbidity through disturbances in autonomic regulation and activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Transcendental meditation (TM), a mantra-based meditation technique, has been proposed as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for stress reduction; however, controlled clinical evidence remains limited.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of TM, practiced along with a fixed regimen of yogic practices, on stress reduction in healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled comparative clinical trial was conducted among 20 healthy participants aged 18–60 years at GS Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (intervention group, n = 10) and Group B (control group, n = 10). Group A practiced TM along with associated yogic practices for 4 weeks, 6 days/week, whereas Group B received no intervention. Outcome measures included Beck Anxiety Inventory scores, chakra alignment assessed using the Bio-Well scale, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate. Assessments were performed at baseline and after 1 month. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired and independent t-tests.
Results: Group A demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores (16% decrease, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (4% reduction, P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (7% reduction, P = 0.007), and pulse rate (6% reduction, P = 0.012). Chakra alignment also showed significant improvement (7% increase, P < 0.001). In contrast, Group B showed no statistically significant changes in any assessed parameter. Post-intervention comparison between groups revealed statistically significant differences favoring the intervention group.
Discussion and Conclusion: TM practiced with a fixed regimen of yogic practices for 4weeks produced significant improvement in stress-related psychological and physiological parameters among healthy participants.The findings suggest that this combined intervention may serve as an effective non-pharmacological approach for stress reduction and autonomic balance.
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