Meditation and Its Impact on Neuroendocrine Health
Yadala Mohanraj Dey
Journal of Swasthavritta and Yoga July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.33545/30787157.2025.v2.i2.a.24 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Compassion Transcendental meditation Happiness Oxytocin Cognition Immune system Neural system Psychotherapist Mood Neurohormones |
| Key findings | Meditation practices modulate neuroendocrine axes—HPA, HPT, and SAM—improving hormonal profiles by reducing cortisol, enhancing melatonin, balancing serotonin and dopamine, and optimizing oxytocin release. |
Abstract
The neuroendocrine system acts as the biochemical interface between the brain and the body, regulating stress, mood, energy metabolism, immune responses, and overall physiological homeostasis. Chronic stress and modern lifestyle factors have disrupted neuroendocrine balance, leading to metabolic, emotional, and cardiovascular disorders. Meditation—an ancient mind-body discipline—has gained recognition as a non-pharmacological tool capable of restoring neuroendocrine harmony through psychophysiological regulation. This paper examines how different meditation practices modulate neuroendocrine axes, focusing on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and sympatho-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system. Drawing on neuroscientific and endocrinological research, it elucidates how mindfulness, transcendental meditation, yoga-based meditation, and compassion meditation improve hormonal profiles—reducing cortisol, enhancing melatonin, balancing serotonin and dopamine, and optimizing oxytocin release. The paper integrates clinical evidence, mechanistic insights, and traditional perspectives, offering a holistic view of meditation as a neuroendocrine modulator.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |