Transcendental Meditation in the Treatment of Mental and Physical Conditions
The Oxford Handbook of Meditation December 15, 2020 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198808640.013.35 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation technique |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Regular Transcendental Meditation practice is associated with improvements in physical health, psychological health, and behavior. |
Abstract
Abstract The Transcendental Meditation technique (TM) is a process of transcending from the active mind to the silent mind, creating a feeling of well-being that many people describe as blissful. As the mind settles, the body becomes deeply rested, as indicated by reductions of physiological stress markers. The meditator typically experiences expanded inner awareness, which corresponds to marked slowing of the breath and increased brain wave (EEG) coherence, a measure of brain integration that is associated with higher levels of creativity. This chapter reviews work on the effects of TM in major areas of human functioning such as physical and psychological health, considers its impact on behavior, and examines some of the processes through which TM has its effects. The literature suggests that regular TM practice can help defuse the stresses and strains accrued during the day. Through regular practice, the body begins to function in a more stress-free, efficient, and resilient way outside of meditation. Well-controlled studies indicate that TM results in improvements in physical health (e.g. it reduces hypertension and cardiovascular disease), and psychological health (e.g. it reduces anxiety, depression, and anger), as well as influencing people’s behavior (e.g. reductions in drug, alcohol, and cigarette use, as well as in recidivism).
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Transcendental meditation: A bibliometric retrospection from years 1955-2022 International Journal of Applied Research 2023
- Transandantal Meditasyonun Ortaya Çıkışı, Tarihsel Gelişimi ve Türkiye’deki Durumu Bartın Üniversitesi İslami İlimler Fakültesi Dergisi October 10, 2025
- Spirituality and Transcendental meditation practitioners’ experiences in South Africa and Ghana Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health September 11, 2024
- Comparison between Pilates exercise and combination with transcen-dental meditation towards short-term memory among adult females JKKI August 3, 2024
- Field-Effects of Consciousness: A Seventeen-Year Study of the Effects of Group Practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs on Reducing National Stress in the United States World Journal of Social Science December 20, 2022
and 2 more in the library
Cites 57
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989
- Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease Archives of Internal Medicine June 12, 2006
and 52 more in the library