By IANS
Washington : TM or Transcendental Meditation, the meditation technique introduced in 1958 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is an effective therapy for easing high blood pressure and also bypassing possible side effects of anti-hypertension drugs, according to researchers.
The study by University of Kentucky researchers evaluated nine randomised, controlled trials using TM on hypertension patients. It was associated with approximate reductions of 4.7 mm systolic blood pressure and 3.2 mm diastolic blood pressure (BP).
The study’s co-author James W. Anderson of University of Kentucky averred that BP reductions of this magnitude could be expected to be accompanied by significant cutbacks in risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, sans side effects.
Anderson’s most recent findings reinforce an earlier study that found TM produces a statistically significant reduction in high BP not found with other forms of relaxation, meditation, bio-feedback or stress management.
“Adding TM is about equivalent to adding a second anti-hypertension agent to one’s current regimen only safer and less troublesome,” said Anderson.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one out of three American adults have high BP. It increases one’s chances of developing heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney disease.
The study appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.