Effectiveness of heartfulness meditation in the management of recurrent aphthous ulcers.

Recurrent aphthous ulcers, the most common painful oral sores, are typically treated with tetracycline, which can cause side effects. Heartfulness meditation, which fosters self-compassion, was tested against conventional treatment in 54 patients divided into three groups: meditation alone, tetracycline alone, or both. Pain decreased substantially with meditation; the combined group had the lowest pain scores. At 3, 5, and 7 days, pain levels were similar between the tetracycline and meditation groups. The combined group also showed the shortest ulcer duration (7.167 ±0.383 days). Adding meditation to tetracycline reduced pain faster and shortened ulcer duration compared to meditation alone.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAUs) are the most prevalent form of painful oral mucosal disorder. Conventional treatment for RAUs involves the administration of tetracycline, which has been shown to alleviate clinical signs and symptoms. However, this medication has been associated with a number of adverse effects. Heartfulness meditation (HM) has been shown to facilitate natural healing of ulcers without complications by developing a compassionate connection with oneself. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of HM in the management of RAUs and to compare its effects with those of conventional treatment. A parallel study was conducted among 54 patients affected with RAUs. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 - HM; group 2 - tetracycline treatment; and group 3 - combination of tetracycline treatment and HM. The evaluated outcomes included pain levels and the duration of ulceration. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-test were applied to identify significant differences between the groups. A substantial decrease in pain intensity was observed during HM. The group that engaged in meditation alongside tetracycline treatment exhibited the lowest pain scores. At follow-up intervals of 3, 5 and 7 days, pain levels between the tetracycline group and the HM group were similar. The group that received a combination of tetracycline treatment and HM demonstrated the shortest duration of ulcers (7.167 ±0.383 days). The study concluded that when HM was practiced in addition to tetracycline treatment, it demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing pain at the shortest time. Furthermore, the study noted a reduction in the duration of ulcers when HM was used in conjunction with tetracycline, as compared to the practice of HM alone.