Meditation and Its Impact on Neuroendocrine Health
Journal of Swasthavritta and Yoga July 1, 2025 Yadala Mohanraj Dey
Chronic stress and modern lifestyles disrupt neuroendocrine balance, contributing to metabolic, emotional, and cardiovascular disorders. Meditation, an ancient mind-body practice, can restore this balance by regulating key neuroendocrine axes: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and sympatho-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system. Different meditation styles—mindfulness, transcendental meditation, yoga-based meditation, and compassion meditation—improve hormonal profiles by reducing cortisol, enhancing melatonin, balancing serotonin and dopamine, and optimizing oxytocin release. The paper integrates clinical evidence, mechanistic insights, and traditional perspectives, presenting meditation as a non-pharmacological modulator of neuroendocrine function.