Posts Tagged ‘Transcendental Meditation’

Can stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation help CHD patients prevent future heart attacks?

November 6, 2009

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Public Release: 6-Nov-2009

Can stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation help CHD patients prevent future heart attacks?

The National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute will fund a $1 million collaborative study by the Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management Research Institute and Columbia University Medical Center to determine whether the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique can help patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) prevent future heart attacks, strokes and death.

The 12-week “Randomized Controlled Trial of Stress Reduction in the Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in African Americans,” will be conducted at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. The trial will examine 56 patients who have had a heart attack or bypass surgery, angioplasty, or chronic angina.

“For decades, stress has been implicated in the cause and progression of heart disease,” said Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., lead author and director of the NIH-funded Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention. “And while standard cardiac rehabilitation usually includes supervised exercise and lifestyle education, it does not usually include a formal stress reduction program.

“Now, for the first time, this study will evaluate whether adding stress reduction through the Transcendental Meditation technique to conventional cardiac rehabilitation will aid in the treatment of serious CHD compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation alone,” Dr. Schneider said.

Patients will be carefully evaluated before and after the study for changes in their coronary artery disease with the most advanced noninvasive methods for measuring cardiac function—PET or positron emission tomography. According to Sabahat Bokhari, MD, Director of Nuclear Cardiology at Columbia University Medical Center and study co-director, “PET is an innovative imaging technology that allows us to visually and non-invasively study blood flow to the heart. With this state-of-the-art technology, doctors can now measure the blood flow to the heart and thus quantify the full impact of stress reduction on CHD.”

The NIH funding allocation is part of the Obama Administration’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act—or economic stimulus bill. Competition for the funding was fierce with more than 20,000 applications for the Challenge Grants category and only 840 awarded. “In the current climate of health care reform, the purpose of this grant is to find more effective treatments for heart disease and thereby find more effective ways to reduce health care costs,” Dr. Schneider said.

“The NHLBI’s Recovery Act funds will make it possible to evaluate Transcendental Meditation as a promising tool in helping to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and death related to coronary events. This is worthwhile research since we know that strong emotional stress can lead to conditions such as arrhythmia and hypertension,” said NHLBI Director Elizabeth Nabel, M.D.

Results from several earlier trials on the Transcendental Meditation program found reductions in risk factors for heart disease, such as hypertension, psychological stress, insulin resistance, and build-up of atherosclerosis in the arteries, with indications of reduced mortality from heart disease. This newly funded study will directly evaluate coronary artery disease and continue to examine the potential of meditation for improvements in cardiovascular health.

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Fast Facts on Coronary Heart Disease:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States
  • There are nearly 1.5 million heart attacks per year in the US, according the American Heart Association
  • An American will suffer a heart attack every 34 seconds
  • Coronary heart disease is also the leading cause of soaring health care costs; more than $475 billion spent annually on treating CHD, including
    • $100,000 for each coronary bypass surgery
    • $50,000 for each angioplasty
    • $30,000 for each diagnostic cardiac catheterization
  • There are nearly 500,000 coronary artery bypass grafts and 1.3 million angioplasties performed every year
  • Stress is thought to contribute to development of CHD

Paul McCartney’s son says he’s ready to follow in dad’s footsteps

November 5, 2009

Paul McCartney’s son says he’s ready to follow in dad’s footsteps

November 4, 5:29 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

JamesMcCartneyJames McCartney, son of former Beatle Paul McCartney, will play his American debut concert Nov. 14 at Maharishi University in Fairfield, Iowa. The younger McCartney will perform during the fourth annual David Lynch “Change Begins Within” Weekend, Nov. 13 to 16. Also performing will be Donovan, who joined the Beatles in Rishikesh. Blueser Laura Dawn and her group The Little Death will fill out the bill.

The concert comes a little more than 40 years after James’ father, Paul McCartney, traveled to Rishikesh, India, to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

“James has a way with melody and a set of pipes, which are more than a match for his dad’s,” a recent article in the UK Sun declared.

In a statement issued for the concert, he said this is something he’s been working towards for a while.                                                                               

“I have been playing music since I was nine and writing along the way. I met my band about a year ago. Producer David Kahne introduced us — and my dad, Paul, helped.”

McCartney says his father played a big role in helping him develop his musical talent. “My dad taught me guitar when I was nine. I play a Fender Stratocaster, which Carl Perkins gave me from the seventies, and a Gibson Les Paul that my dad gave me — heart red.

“The band consists of me, 32, on guitar, piano, and vocals; Brian Johnson, 28, on drums; Steven Bayley, 32, on guitar, synthesizers, toy piano, and harmonies; and Charles Turner, 27, on bass and harmonies, McCartney states. “I am from London and Sussex, Brian and Charlie are from Allerton, Liverpool, where my dad grew up, and Steve is from Birmingham. Brian and Charlie used to be in the Dead 60s and Steve used to be in The Open.”

The group is touring and also in the midst of recording an album. “We are mixing our album in Hog Hill Studio, Sussex. The words on the album refer to spirituality, love, family, trying to sort out one’s own life, and many other things. I have written the songs over a ten-year period,” he says.

“The music was inspired by the Beatles, Nirvana, the Cure, PJ Harvey, Radiohead — and all good music. It is basically rock ‘n ‘roll, clean sounding, and vocal.”

Just like his dad.

Natural Solutions: Meditation for Minors

November 5, 2009

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Published:10/01/2009

Meditation for Minors

By Cara MacDonald

Here’s a shocker: One of the film industry’s most brilliant minds once felt anything but brilliant. While working on his breakout film Eraserhead in the mid-’70s, David Lynch had “everything I could ever want to make the film—the best equipment, the best place to live … but I wasn’t happy; I felt a kind of hollowness.” He began practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM), which let him connect to a creativity within that has inspired him throughout his career. In 2005, he created the David Lynch Foundation, which offers scholarships to schools to fund instruction in TM with the hopes of reducing stress and increasing well-being and creativity in children. Natural Solutions talked to Lynch about how meditation changed his world—and why he wants to pass it on.

On meditation and creativity:
I like to say that ideas are like fish. The small fish swim on the surface but the big fish swim at the depths of the ocean. TM expands your conscious mind so you can catch the really big ideas.

On how meditation affects his films:
It allows me to effortlessly “dive within” and experience that ocean of creativity, intelligence, happiness, love, and dynamic peace. Mulholland Drive was first shot as a television pilot; the executive hated it and turned it down. I had the chance to make it a feature film, but I didn’t have all of the ideas. I went into meditation and after about 10 minutes, ssssst! The ideas came like a string of pearls.

On what inspired him to bring TM to schools:
I attended a high school play put on by meditating students at Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa, and I was totally amazed at how bright and shiny, how natural and powerful, how much “themselves” these students were. Then I heard about the terrors of modern education, how afraid children are to even go to school because of the violence, drugs, and stress. So I wanted to do what I could to offer meditation to any student anywhere in the world.

On how TM helps kids succeed in school:
It’s done for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day as part of the school’s “quiet time” program. Everyone in the school benefits. I hear all the time about a child getting Ds and Fs, close to being expelled, and then he or she learns to meditate and, within a few weeks or months, she is getting As and Bs. The schools are transformed from being literally hellholes of violence and fear to centers of learning and creativity. That’s the report we get from principals and parents.

On why meditation is vital for a child:
It’s important for everyone to meditate, not just children. But think about how great it is to start your life developing your full creative potential, and growing in enlightenment, brightness, happiness, inner strength, intelligence, creativity, and dynamic peace.
—Cara McDonald

How to introduce meditation to your kids:
• Encourage downtime and regular exercise to trigger the relaxation response. • Educate yourself before considering meditation for your child. Check out tm.org for free workshops that explain the TM concept. • Visit davidlynchfoundation.org for school grant and scholarship information.

© 1999-2009 Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living/Alternative Medicine/InnoVision Health Media

Fourth Annual David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation Taking Place in Iowa

October 31, 2009

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Fourth Annual David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation Taking Place in Iowa

Published at 1:48 PM on October 30, 2009

By Emily Riemer

David Lynch, signature director of quintessentially dark, sometimes confusing, occasionally erotic, often non-linear films, is also a representative for world peace and meditation. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker and his David Lynch Foundation will present the fourth annual David Lynch Weekend at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa on Friday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 15.

Lynch will be the keynote speaker at the conference, and other presenters range from 1960s pop star Donovan to quantum physicist and Maharishi professor John Hagelin (who ran for U.S. president three times with the Natural Law Party). The weekend is aimed at those “interested in creativity, film, art, sustainable living, organic agriculture, brain development, consciousness, meditation, natural medicine, renewable living, peace.” Attendees are encouraged to “take part in a greater conversation about the creative process, alternative education and ways to live a better life.”

The David Lynch Foundation was established in 2005 and, according to its website, has provided millions of dollars to fund and implement the teaching of Transcendental Meditation techniques to students worldwide. The DLF credits the techniques with reducing ADHD and other learning disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, calling them stress reducing programs that “improve creativity, brain functioning, and academic performance.”

Maharishi University is an appropriate location for such a conference. The undergraduate and graduate university centers around “consciousness-based education” of Transcendental Meditation, sustainability, peace and natural health.

Beyond his forays into transcendentalism, David Lynch is best known as the director of films such as Mulholland Drive and the TV show Twin Peaks.

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Teaching Wall Street to transcend woes and meditate

October 28, 2009

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New York City news, culture and more from amNewYork

Urbanite

Teaching Wall Street to transcend woes and meditate

1:12 PM By Danielle Sonnenberg

Is Wall Street ready to embrace spirituality?

Its new neighbor thinks so. The Center for Leadership Performance moved into the historic American Bank Note Building, one block from the New York Stock Exchange, to teach the Masters of the Universe the power of transcendental meditation techniques.

“People working under enormous stress don’t want to self-medicate through drugs and alcohol,” said Robert Roth, executive director of the center.

About 100 people attended two seminars there on Friday — a sort of meet-the-neighbors open house.

The center promotes the benefits of meditating for 20 minutes, twice a day, including increased creativity, lessened stress, enhanced ability to focus and reduced blood pressure.

The meditation is also said to help a person achieve their professional potential.

“It’s not just a relaxation technique,” said Roth.

Ray Dalio, who heads Bridgewater Associates, is among the financial firm bigwigs who have embraced transcendental meditation. He spoke about how it increased his employees’ clear thinking.

He believes in it so much he pays half of the costs for his employees, and then pays the other half if they stick with it longer than six months. Training costs begin at $750.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Dalio said of the performance-enhancing techniques.
Attendees at the seminar seemed ready for a spiritual awakening.

“I really want to learn meditation, but I don’t know how,” said Desiré Carroll, a manager at Deloitte who plans to take lessons.

Cory Miller, a trader, came to the seminar after a client recommended it as a stress reliever.

“Everyone doing it, they have a glow and they seem happy,” said Miller, 22.

Copyright © 2009 amNewYork. All rights reserved.

http://bit.ly/Etv1F

Connect Savannah: Extreme closeup: Ben Foster

October 27, 2009

Extreme closeup: Ben Foster

October 27, 2009

The young star of ‘The Messenger’ is honored following Saturday’s screening

With Woody Harrelson in
With Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger.”

Since his breakout role on HBO’s Six Feet Under, Ben Foster has appeared in one high–profile feature film after another. He played the mutant Angel in X–Men: The Last Stand, drug–addled teen Jake Mazursky in the crime drama Alpha Dog, and psychotic cowboy Charlie Prince in the western remake 3:10 to Yuma. Foster’s new film is The Messenger, in which he and Woody Harrelson are emotionally scarred veterans of the Iraq war, assigned “the worst job in the Army” Stateside — notifying family members that a loved one has been killed overseas.

Against orders and against logic, Foster’s character falls for a young widow, played by Samantha Morton.

Foster, Harrelson and writer/director Oren Moverman will attend Saturday’s screening of The Messenger at the Trustees Theater; afterwards, both actors will receive awards from the Savannah Film Festival.

The Messenger — the first film to put Foster’s name not only above the title, but above those of his co–stars — has been getting rave reviews. There’s talk of an Oscar nomination for Foster.

At 29, Foster has more good notices under his belt that many film actors twice his age. He is known for his piercing eyes and quiet intensity — and his ability to deliver the goods, even when the film itself is substandard (see the recent Pandorum).

It occurred to me that Jake Mazursky in Alpha Dog and Charlie Prince in 3:10 to Yuma are like different generations of the same character. Do you ever worry you’re getting typecast as the intense, crazy guy?

Ben Foster: I’m sure on some level some psychologist could have a field day with me on the roles that I end up doing. It’s really project to project, and where I’m at and who I get to play with.

You left Iowa at 16 and went to L.A., and started working almost immediately. Do you ever pinch yourself?

Ben Foster: Oh certainly, every day. I was talking to my mom about this very thing not a few days ago. I’m incredibly lucky. There are so many gifted people who aren’t at the right place at the right time, for whatever reason. That’s not to say it’s been an easy road. And at the end of it, hopefully, I’ll be able to keep playing.

What do you look for in a role?

Ben Foster: It really depends on where you’re at. This idea of only doing projects that speak to the deepest corners of your inner core, that’s somewhat laughable to say these days, and where this industry is at. That being said, I’m not going to choose a job and spend two or four months of my life with strangers making something if I didn’t believe that we could create something collectively that was exciting. Sometimes it turns out really well, and other times… there are limitations. Creative limitations, financial limitations, time.

Do you ever realize this while the film is in production — “This one’s not going to be so great, but I’ve committed” — or do you always have to believe it’s going to be a great movie?

Ben Foster: I gotta go in thinking that each one’s going to be special. It doesn’t have to be the greatest film of all time, but if you don’t have that belief… you know, only you can blow your own candle out. And it adds up if you’re doing things that you don’t believe in. If you’re approaching a role as an actor approaching a role, there’s too much distance. It doesn’t feel good, and people don’t respond to it, and it’s just not worth the time. Sometimes, it works out well.

You recently co–starred with Dennis Quaid in Pandorum. The reviews were… well, not good. What were you thinking as you read the script?

Ben Foster: It was a fairly innocent read. It held my attention. I was very apprehensive about doing it, but I spoke with Christian Alvart, the director, and he had a very specific idea of how he wanted to shoot it… I turned it down again.

I think they came back to me three times, and I guess like I felt I was taking myself too seriously and thought “I’d certainly like to go to the movies and be entertained.” I hadn’t done a proper sci–fi picture before, so I gave it a shot.

You played astronauts in a broken spacecraft. What was shooting that like?

Ben Foster: It didn’t turn out — in the experience, nor in the final product — the way that it was presented to me. And that’s fairly frustrating.

How did you approach The Messenger?

Ben Foster: The Messenger has certainly been a labor of love. I’m pretty press–shy, but for The Messenger I’m going on a full tour, and that’s not limited to the fact that I’m just proud of the film as a whole; more importantly, I’m proud of the questions it asks.

I was drawn to it initially because of Oren. It was the only script that dealt with the war, that I had read, that presented the results of warfare without taking an overtly political side. To get lost in that world… it’s having the opportunity to learn things that I don’t know about. I’ve had friends in the military, but the opportunity to spend time with vets, and the soldiers that have come back, it was truly a life–changing experience.

We went to Walter Reed Hospital and spent time in the amputee ward. The head of Casualty Notification for the United States was on set with us every day. I wouldn’t say it was an easy shoot, but the space that Oren created and the resources for research, allowed us all to get lost. And getting to work with Woody Harrelson, who I think handed in one of his finest performances. Harrelson is my brother. I’d do anything for that man!

And Samantha Morton and Jenna Malone… I can’t imagine that anyone gets an opportunity to do too many that stick with you to this degree.

Do you go looking for fresh challenges?

Ben Foster: I guess the challenge is: I’m beyond compelled to put myself in a situation where I could experience something that ordinarily I wouldn’t have the opportunity to. So yes, it’s exciting. It’s mostly exciting to work with people who give a shit.

You practice transcendental meditation. What does TM do for you?

Ben Foster: It’s a technique, twice a day. It’s not a religious or even a dogmatic technique, it’s an ancient, simple, quiet, internal technology that you do with yourself. It’s basically gettin’ rid of the static. It’s tuning, you know?

It’s not as simple as just saying “clearing your head.” It’s a rooting and a tuning, if that makes any sense.

There’s just so much input in the world, and we absorb this. And our families, and our work, there’s so many demands. And what this does, it’s a reset button. So it allows me more energy, when I take 30–45 minutes in the morning.

Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass on set. If my call time’s 5 in the morning, I gotta get up at 4. But what it gives me during the day is just a resource of energy, and the ability to hear what I’m actually thinking, rather than spitting back what I’ve been told.

It’s up to you how you use it. It’s like eating well and getting a good night’s sleep: You’re going to perform better — whatever action you’re doing, with friends or family, or your job or on your own. It’s just a stabilizing resource of energy, and clarity of thought.

What’s next for you?

Ben Foster: I just finished shooting a film in Armenia called Hear — it’s kind of a meditative road movie. And now I’m on my way to New Orleans to shoot some guns with Jason Statham. It’s a remake of the Charles Bronson movie The Mechanic.  cs

Savannah Film Festival: The Messenger screening

Where: Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St.

When: At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31

Tickets: $5–$10, at (912) 525–5050

Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster Tribute accompanies the screening

See the trailer for the film here.

Also see: Extreme closeup: Woody Harrelson

Here’s a great CNN interview with Ben Foster talking about the soldier’s job in The Messenger.

Halt Nepal’s Political Unrest Now With Vedic Defence

October 21, 2009

Global Politician

Halt Nepal’s Political Unrest Now With Vedic Defence
By Dr. Kingsley Brooks and Dr. David Leffler

Nepal, the land of Himalayas and Veda, is today facing a great challenge of ever increasing internal violence by various groups of insurgents. How does it stop the political unrest that cripples Nepal’s economy and causes other social problems that could lead to more war and terrorism? Achieving economic success while happily living in perpetual peace is not only an intrinsic desire but also a fervent wish of the citizens of Nepal.

Despite advanced technology and the boldness, courage, strength, and intelligence of Nepal’s armed forces, the nation still struggles to eliminate violent extremism and to achieve a lasting peace. Violent extremism is a human problem requiring human solutions. The underlying cause of extremist social violence is accumulated social stress. Therefore, to eliminate such social problems, the military needs to reduce the collective societal stress in Nepal.

Is there a way to reduce collective stress and create peace? If so, how could such an ideal goal be achieved in Nepal where tensions are so high? During these dangerous times, Nepal must rely on a scientifically verified approach to quickly reduce the tensions which are fueling violent extremism. Extensive scientific research indicates that the best way to reduce collective societal stress, eliminate extremism, boost the economy and thereby snuff out war and terrorism is to adopt an ancient Vedic strategy. In modern times this strategy is called Invincible Defence Technology (IDT) and was revived by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in a non-religious manner. It has been quietly and successfully used by members of many faiths worldwide to eliminate conflict in the past.

A Prevention Wing of the Military consisting of 3% of the armed forces of Nepal could achieve this goal. This special unit would be trained in Invincible Defence Technology and would collectively practice its ancient Vedic technologies of consciousness – the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs – in large groups, twice a day.

Extensive research shows that the size of the group needed to reduce social stress in a given population should exceed the square root of 1% of the population size. To calculate this number, multiply the population size by 0.01, and then take the square root of the result. For instance, the population of Nepal is approximately 27 million: 27,000,000 x 0.01 = 270,000, and the square root of 270,000 is approximately 520, so a group of at least 520 IDT experts is needed. (Source: http://www.SquareRootofOnePercent.org)

Studies show that when these thresholds are exceeded, crime goes down, quality of life indices go up, and war and terrorism abate. Scientists named this phenomenon “The Maharishi Effect” in honor of Maharishi, who first predicted it. For instance, a Maharishi Effect intervention was implemented and studied in the US capital of Washington, DC, in 1993. Predictions were lodged in advance with government leaders and newspapers. An independent Project Review Board approved the research protocol. Crime fell 24 percent below expected levels when the group size reached its maximum. Weekend effects, temperature, and previous trends in the data failed to account for changes. These findings were published in Social Indicators Research (1999, vol. 47, 153–201).

Over 50 studies have shown that IDT works. The causal mechanism has been postulated to be a field effect of consciousness—a spillover effect on the level of the unified field from the peace-creating group into the larger population. On this basis, a study in the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (2005, vol. 17, #1, pp. 339–373) additionally offers a proposed explanation of causality of IDT in biological terms. Research conducted on the powerful neurotransmitter serotonin shows that it produces feelings of contentment, happiness and even euphoria. Low levels of serotonin, according to research, correlate with violence, aggression, and poor emotional moods. The IDT study showed that higher numbers of IDT experts correlated with a marked increase in serotonin production among other community members. These results were statistically significant and followed the attendance figures in the IDT group. This finding offers a plausible neurophysiologic mechanism to explain reduced hostility and aggression in society at large.

IDT has also been documented worldwide in a study published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation (2003, vol. 36, #1–4, 283–302) using data provided by the Rand Corporation. When large assemblies of IDT experts exceeded the Maharishi Effect threshold for the world during the years 1983–1985, deaths due to terrorism globally decreased 72%, international conflict decreased 32%, and violence was reduced in nations throughout the world without intrusion by other governments.

The armed forces of Nepal are responsible for protecting the nation’s citizens, and are obligated to thoroughly examine realistic, scientifically validated methods for ending war and terrorism. Nepal’s foreign policy and defence policy are largely committed to creating a peaceful world. Therefore, it would be consistent for Nepal to adopt a non-lethal defence system.

Since joining the United Nations in 1955, Nepal has expressed abiding faith in the principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter regarding goals of international peace, security, and promoting international cooperation for economic and social development. The Nepal military can play a leading role with its readymade manpower for crisis management with a mostly effortless modification of its ongoing training programs.

Ultimately, it is the duty of the armed forces of Nepal to quickly establish a Prevention Wing of the Military in order to create economic success, peace and stability in Nepal today.

Dr. Kingsley Brooks is Senior International Administrator for Nepal for the Global Country of World Peace, established to unify all nations in prosperity and invincibility. Formerly he was Administrative Director for the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy. Dr. David Leffler, a United States Air Force veteran, is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS) at the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy.

© 2004-2008 Global Politician

Alternative to ADHD Drugs

October 16, 2009

care2

Alternative to ADHD Drugs

 

posted by Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine Oct 15, 2009

care2photo

By Diana Reynolds Roome, Natural Solutions

Josh Goulding was diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in second grade, after his impulsive and disruptive behavior frequently landed him in the school principal’s office. “Over several years, I was put on a whole gamut of drugs, and nothing worked well,” says Goulding, now 24. By his second year at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Goulding was still struggling to concentrate in classes and complete his work, and his medications were causing mood swings and irritability.

The Conventional Rx: Stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall. Almost 4.5 million children between ages 4 and 17 are diagnosed with ADHD, and nearly half of them take prescription medications, often for years. Long term, these drugs may be physically and psychologically harmful, and side effects such as sleep disturbances, poor appetite, weight loss, and mood disorders can require further medication.

The Alternative Rx: Transcendental Meditation (TM). In the first study on ADHD and TM, middle-school-age children who did twice daily nonreligious meditations for 10 minutes reduced their stress levels by over 50 percent–resulting in fewer ADHD symptoms. “TM helps children focus on a special mantra or sound, which helps the child transcend mental busyness and stress,” says Sarina Grosswald, EdD, coauthor of the study. “This allows the child’s body to completely relax and his mind to stay fully awake without effort. The results are improved behavior, grades, creativity, and inner stability.”

The Outcome: Just before turning 21, Goulding attended a talk on TM and signed up to learn the technique. First, he started sleeping better. Then, finding it easier to focus and relate to others, his grades improved. When Goulding returned to his doctor, his blood pressure was lower (it had been borderline hypertensive before he started TM) and, even after he stopped taking ADHD medications, his grade-point average continued to rise.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/alternative-to-adhd-drugs.html

For more details on TM & ADHD visit: http://www.adhd-tm.org/

Asian Tribune: Give India the Best Defence System in the World

October 13, 2009

Asian Tribune logo

Give India the Best Defence System in the World
Tue, 2009-10-13 23:39 — editor

By Dr. John Hagelin and Dr. David Leffler

US President Barack Obama won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize this year just two weeks after shepherding a resolution through the 15-member UN Security Council calling upon all countries, including India, to participate in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The reduction or elimination of nuclear weapons is clearly an important goal. But how can this goal be achieved in today’s hate-filled, high-tension political climate? Both India and Pakistan have acquired their nuclear weapons as protection or deterrence against attack.

The word “deterrence” comes from the Latin root meaning “fear.” In theory, war is deterred by instilling fear in potential enemies, and to this end, India has amassed tremendous destructive potential. But this same fear incites other countries to acquire their own nuclear arsenals, further inflaming regional tensions and hatred. For this reason, no country committed to defence solely through destructive power is likely to generate a trust-based, peaceful atmosphere.

Diplomacy and economic sanctions likewise have not been sufficient to resolve the fear crisis-which is driven by human behavioral dynamics that cannot be controlled by such methods alone.

War and conflict are human problems requiring human solutions. The underlying cause of conflict is accumulated social stress. Today the military of India has an opportunity to address this fundamental cause of war by deploying a new, scientifically verified technology of defence beyond nuclear weapons.

A New Solution

This new technology of defence is based upon the latest discoveries in the fields of physics, neuroscience, and physiology. Ultimately, it is based on the discovery of the unified field of all the laws of nature-the most fundamental and powerful level of nature’s dynamics. Technologies based upon this unified field of natural law have such concentrated power that they can render obsolete and irrelevant every previous objective technology and destructive means of defence.

Modern science has probed deeper levels of nature’s functioning, from the macroscopic world of classical physics to the underlying atomic, nuclear, and subnuclear levels, culminating in the discovery of the unified field, the unified source of the diversified laws of nature governing the universe. Because this unified field is vastly more powerful than any other level of nature’s dynamics, a technology of defence based upon the unified field is of historic importance. It is already changing the whole science and technology of defence.

Accessing the Unified Field Within

Since the unified field is the source of the objective world, its power cannot be harnessed through objective technologies. A new approach is needed-one that draws upon the world’s subjective traditions of meditation. Properly understood and property practiced, meditation throughout the ages has been a systematic technology to turn human awareness within to experience finer levels of thought, deeper levels of human intelligence that correspond to deeper levels of intelligence in nature. This inward exploration culminates in direct experience of the deepest level of consciousness-the simplest, silent, settled state of human awareness, sometimes called the state of pure consciousness-in which the human mind identifies with the unified field. By turning the attention systematically within, human awareness explores deeper levels of nature’s functioning and ultimately experiences the unified field at the source of thought-the field of unity at the basis of mind and matter.

The Vedic tradition of knowledge from India is the most complete and highly developed tradition of meditation in the world, yet this ancient approach of gaining knowledge and experience of the unified field has become the focus of intense scientific research over the past 50 years. The late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived, from the ancient Vedic science of consciousness, systematic technologies for experiencing the unified field, including the Transcendental Meditation program and its advanced techniques. These meditation practices are known as Invincible Defence Technology (IDT) in military circles and have been successfully applied by members of many faiths to eliminate conflict in the recent past. If the military of India were to apply this human resource-based technology, which is non-lethal and non-destructive, it could reduce the collective societal stress that is fueling the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Prevention Wings

A Prevention Wing of the Military would be the ideal way to achieve this goal. Less than 1% of the military of India would participate in this wing. The remaining personnel would carry out their normal military duties. The Prevention Wing would be trained in the primary components of IDT. They would practice these technologies in large groups, morning and evening.

The Maharishi Effect

Over 50 research studies confirm that when the required threshold of IDT experts is crossed-approximately the square root of 1% of the size of a given population-crime goes down in the affected population, quality of life indices go up, and war and terrorism abate. Scientists have named this phenomenon the Maharishi Effect in honor of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who first predicted it. The causal mechanism appears to be a field effect of consciousness-a spillover effect on the level of the unified field from the peace-creating group into the larger population.

For instance, in 1993, a two-month Maharishi Effect intervention was implemented and studied in Washington, DC. Predictions of specific drops in crime and other indices were lodged in advance with government leaders and newspapers. The research protocol was approved by an independent Project Review Board. The findings showed that crime fell 23.3 percent below the predicted level when the peace-creating group reached its maximum size. Temperature, weekend effects, or previous trends in the data failed to account for changes. This research was published in the peer-reviewed Social Indicators Research (1999, vol. 47, 153-201).

The Maharishi Effect was documented on a global scale in a study using Rand Corporation data and published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation (2003, vol. 36, 283-302). When assemblies of IDT experts exceeded the Maharishi Effect threshold for the world (about 7,000 at that time) during the years 1983-1985, terrorism globally decreased 72%, international conflict decreased 32%, and violence in nations was reduced without intrusion by other governments.

The Opportunity for Permanent Peace

The military of India is charged with the constitutional responsibility to defend the country. It can now succeed in this mission simply by creating a Prevention Wing of the Military – a coherence-creating group of IDT experts exceeding the square root of 1% of the population of India – approximately 3,415 soldiers.

As part of its responsibility to protect the nation, India’s military is obligated to thoroughly examine realistic, scientifically proven methods for preventing war and terrorism. IDT is such a method. Moreover, since the military and military personnel are funded by the government, a Prevention Wing of the Military would not be subject to the fluctuations in size that often affect civilian IDT groups, where participation may be influenced by finances, job demands, graduations, and optional activities.

All areas of society will be simultaneously enriched by this holistically life-supporting, life-benefiting technology. It is enormously effective and cost-effective, and the results are immediate. All that is necessary is to provide the proper training for a group of military personnel-or indeed, any large group within the country. India has the opportunity today through IDT to create national security, invincibility, and peace. But the time to act is now.

About the Authors:

Dr. John Hagelin is the Director of the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy (ISTPP), an organization in the United States that advocates scientifically proven, prevention-oriented solutions to critical global problems. He is a Harvard-trained quantum physicist who won the prestigious Kilby Award, which recognizes scientists who have made “major contributions to society through their applied research in the fields of science and technology.” Dr. Hagelin also serves as the Executive Director of the International Center for Invincible Defense and as International Director of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace. A video of Dr. Hagelin (1:13:00) explaining the scientific research on IDT is available online as well as from a transcription with full-sized images from his presentation.

David Leffler, Ph.D. a United States Air Force veteran, is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS) at ISTPP. Dr. Leffler received his Ph.D. from The Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he did his doctoral research on the topic of IDT. His other academic degrees include: a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in the Science of Creative Intelligence from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa and an M.M. in Education from New Mexico State

– Asian Tribune –

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Transcendental Meditation reduces stress, improves mental health among women with breast cancer

October 13, 2009

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 13-Oct-2009

Transcendental Meditation reduces stress, improves mental health among women with breast cancer

Chicago, Ill. (October 13, 2009) – Women with breast cancer reduced stress and improved their mental health and emotional well being through the Transcendental Meditation technique, according to a new study published in the current issue of the peer-reviewed Integrative Cancer Therapies (Vol. 8, No. 3: September 2009).

“A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Quality of Life in Older Breast Cancer Patients” was a collaboration between the Center for Healthy Aging at Saint Joseph Hospital; the Institute for Health Services, Research and Policy Studies at Northwestern University; the Department of Psychology at Indiana State University; and the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management.

“It is wonderful that physicians now have a range of interventions to use, including Transcendental Meditation, to benefit their patients with cancer,” said Rhoda Pomerantz, M.D., study co-author and chief of gerontology, Saint Joseph Hospital. “I believe this approach should be appreciated and utilized more widely.”

One hundred thirty women with breast cancer, 55 years and older, participated in the two-year study at Saint Joseph Hospital. The women were randomly assigned to either the Transcendental Meditation technique or to a usual care control group. Patients were administered quality of life measures, including the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), every six months for two years. The average intervention period was 18 months.

Stress contributes to the onset and progression of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women—striking about 13% of women. Women over the age of 50 have four times the incidence of breast cancer compared to women below 50. Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death among women, according to the National Cancer Institute.

“Emotional and psychosocial stress contribute to the onset and progression of breast cancer and cancer mortality,” said Sanford Nidich, lead author of the study and senior researcher at the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management.

“The Transcendental Meditation technique reduces stress and improves emotional well-being and mental health in older breast cancer patients. The women in the study found their meditation practice easy to do at home and reported significant benefits in their overall quality of life,” Dr. Nidich said.

“Decades of research have shown that stress contributes to the cause and complications of cancer,” said Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., co-author and director of Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management. “The data from this well-designed clinical trial and related studies suggest that effective stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation program may be useful in the prevention and treatment and of breast cancer and its deleterious consequences.”

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Maharishi University of Management

The study was supported by grants from the Retirement Research Foundation of Chicago and the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Facts on Breast Cancer

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women—and remains a leading cause of death.
  • Breast cancer incidence in the United States is 1 in 8 (about 13%).
  • In 2008, an estimated 250,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in women in the U.S.
  • Women above the age of 50 have nearly four times the incidence compared to women under 50
  • Newly diagnosed and long-term survivors are affected by impairment in quality of life (QOL), including emotional, physical, functional, social, and spiritual domains.
  • Psychosocial stress contributes to the onset, progression, and mortality from this disease.
  • Clinical diagnosis of breast cancer increases psychological distress, with sustained distress occurring during cancer treatment and continuing long-term.
  • There have been an increasing number of women using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for female-specific cancers. In terms of breast cancer, recent studies indicate that CAM use among women may be as high as 90 percent.

About Saint Joseph Hospital:

Founded in 1868, Saint Joseph Hospital has a long tradition of providing care to the community. The 335-bed full-service hospital on Chicago’s north side specializes in a full array of services, including cardiology, cancer, orthopedics, family medicine, diabetes and behavioral care. The hospital has more than 550 physicians on staff, representing more than 35 specialties. As a community-based teaching facility, Saint Joseph has six residency programs. Saint Joseph Hospital is a part of Resurrection Health Care.

In 2009, the hospital received for the sixth year in a row the Stroke Care HealthGrades Specialty Excellence Award, ranking it among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for stroke care. The hospital is also a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care® and is five-star rated in six clinical areas, including cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disease), heart failure, hip fracture repair, pneumonia and treatment of stroke. The Center for Cancer Care of Saint Joseph Hospital was recently designated the first accredited breast center in Chicago by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), one of only three in Illinois. For information, visit sjh.reshealth.org/proven.

Contact: Susan E. White
Susan.White2@reshealthcare.org
773-665-3445
Saint Joseph Hospital

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