Archives of Internal Medicine
June 12, 2006
Maura Paul‐labrador, Donna M. Polk, James H. Dwyer et al.
282 citations
Transcendental meditation, practiced for 16 weeks, improved blood pressure and insulin resistance in patients with stable coronary heart disease compared with health education alone. Systolic blood pressure fell by 3.4 mm Hg in the meditation group while rising 2.8 mm Hg in controls; insulin resistance decreased by 0.75 units in the meditation group versus an increase of 0.52 units in controls. Heart rate variability, a measure of cardiac autonomic tone, also improved modestly. No effect was seen on endothelial function. The findings suggest that transcendental meditation may help manage coronary heart disease risk by modulating the body's response to stress.
The Permanente Journal
January 30, 2014
Charles Elder, Sanford Nidich, Francis Moriarty et al.
117 citations
Teachers and support staff at a therapeutic school for students with severe behavioral problems who learned the Transcendental Meditation program showed significantly greater reductions in perceived stress, depression, and overall burnout after four months compared with a wait-list control group. Effect sizes ranged from 0.40 to 0.94. The program was effective in reducing psychological distress in this employee population.
Psychosomatic Medicine
January 1, 1998
Robert H. Schneider, Sanford Nidich, John W. Salerno et al.
95 citations
Oxidative stress, which may contribute to aging and chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, was lower in older adults who practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique compared to those who did not. Long-term practitioners (average 16.5 years) had serum lipid peroxide levels 15% lower than controls, as measured by the TBARS assay. The two groups did not differ in smoking, fat intake, or vitamin supplementation, and the lower red meat consumption among meditators did not account for the difference. These preliminary results suggest that stress reduction through Transcendental Meditation may be associated with reduced oxidative stress, though prospective trials are needed to confirm a causal effect.
Health care for women international
February 5, 2026
Leslee Goldstein, Daniela Romagnoli, Sanford Nidich
1 citation
A randomized controlled trial with 199 women living in poverty in Uganda found that practicing Transcendental Meditation for 20 minutes twice daily led to significant reductions in perceived stress, anger, and fatigue, along with improvements in self-efficacy and sleep quality after three months. At an eight-month follow-up, participants reported better physical and mental health, greater ability to handle domestic violence, and improved relationships. The results suggest the Transcendental Meditation program positively affects psychological distress and coping, and could be a valuable addition to programs for women in Uganda.