The Effects of Breath-Counting Meditation on Sasang Constitution
Hyo-Sang Bae, Ji-Hwan Kim, Yong‐Jae Lee, Han-Beom Son, Seong‐Sik Park
Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine June 30, 2015 DOI: 10.7730/jscm.2015.27.2.231 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 79 |
| Population | 79 participants diagnosed with Sasang Constitution by the Sasang Constitution Diagnosis System of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine |
| Duration | 5 minutes of normal breathing, 5 minutes of counting on inspiration, and 5 minutes of counting on expiration |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Counting breaths on either inspiration or expiration reduced mean heart rate and respiration rate compared with breathing normally without counting; respiration rate was most stable during inspiratory counting and mean heart rate during expiratory counting. No interaction was found between breathing method and gender or Sasang Constitution, though men had higher LF/HF ratio and body temperature in some conditions, and heart rate and abdominal amplitude differed by constitution type. |
Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out whether or not there are differences of effects when we count breaths on inspiration or expiration, and how differently the effects show up according to gender or Sasang Constitution Methods A group of 79 participants were enrolled and diagnosed Sasang Constitution by Sasang Constitution Diagnosis System of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Physical responses to respiratory changes were measured by Biofeedback sensors that were attached to the participants while they were seated comfortably on a sofa and breathing normally without counting for 5 minutes, counting on inspiration for 5 minutes, and counting on expiration for 5 minutes. Results and Conclusions 1. Mean heart rate and respiration rate decreased in association with breathing counting on inspiration and expiration more than breathing normally without counting. Especially respiration rate was stabilized during counting on inspiration and mean heart rate was stabilized during counting on expiration. 2. Interaction between breathing methods and gender did not appear. In comparison between gender, LF/HF ratio was higher in male during breathing normally without counting and counting on inspiration. Body temperature was higher in male during counting on inspiration and expiration. 3. Interaction between breathing methods and Sasang Constitution did not appear. In comparison between Sasang Constitution, mean heart rate was higher in Soyang-in, Soeum-in than Taeeum-in and abdominal amplitude was lower in Taeeum-in than Soeum-in.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Cancer patients (clinical intervention study) | 2003 | Mixed methods: scale development, correlational, quasi-experimental, laboratory, experience-sampling, and clinical intervention study | |
| Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. | 2008 | Controlled laboratory experiment | |
| Mindfulness and mind-wandering: Finding convergence through opposing constructs. | 2012 | Two studies: correlational study and experimental study | |
| Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence | 2009 | Experimental study | |
| Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Incarcerated population | 2006 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual control condition |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Yoga Breathing, Meditation, and Longevity Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2009
- The Study on Effects of Breath-Counting Meditation According to Personal Characteristics Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry March 30, 2014
- A qualitative study of mindfulness-based meditation therapy in Japanese cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer July 1, 2011