Zen Meditation and Aromatherapy as a Core to Mental Health: Studies in Vietnamese Monasteries
Religions April 14, 2025 Joanna Różycka‐Tran, Khanh Huu Truong, Klaudia T. Bochniarz et al. 2 citations
In two studies at Vietnamese Buddhist monasteries, brain activity during Zen meditation was measured. In Study 1, monks and nuns showed higher alpha and theta brainwave activity during meditation than non-practitioners; advanced practitioners could shift from beta waves during mind-wandering to alpha waves within five-minute sessions, indicating dynamic brain regulation. In Study 2, no significant differences appeared between nuns with varying meditation experience, but inhaling essential oils significantly decreased theta wave amplitude. These findings deepen understanding of neural activity in advanced meditation.