TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION ENHANCES IMMUNE FUNCTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: EVIDENCE FROM SALIVARY IgA AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING ASSESSMENTS
Description
This study examines the health benefits of Transcendental Meditation (TM), specifically Surat Shabd Yoga, by exploring the communication between the central nervous and immune systems. We assessed the impact of TM on health by measuring salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and psychological well-being using the Spiritual Well-Being Score (SWBS). Forty participants were divided into two groups: Group A, consisting of Surat Shabd Yoga practitioners, and Group B, comprising non-practitioners with no prior meditation experience. We analyzed the correlation between IgA levels and SWBS scores to assess the influence of TM on immune function and psychological health. A significant correlation was observed between IgA levels and SWBS scores in Group A compared to Group B (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Group A exhibited higher mean IgA titers and psychological well-being scores, whereas Group B demonstrated lower values. The data scatter was greater in Group A, reflecting the diverse experiences of TM practitioners. Our findings indicate that Transcendental Meditation, particularly Surat Shabd Yoga, enhances immune function and positively impacts psychological well-being. This study supports the hypothesis of a psycho-immune link associated with consciousness, suggesting that TM strengthens the immune system and contributes to overall health.
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The control and experiment groups were designed under the framework that includes (i) Meditation practitioners remain undisturbed. (ii) External stimulus was avoided during meditation. (iii) Internal spiritual stimulus such as the articulation of a Holy name was used (iv) The sample of the subject was collected in the form of saliva (a non-invasive technique) (v) Saliva was collected at multiple time points and for several days from the same subject. The participants included males and females, ranging from 18 to 75 years of age. The study involved two broad groups of participants. The experimental group, Group A, consisted of 23 healthy volunteers, initiated in the Surat Shabda Yoga tradition, and regularly practiced this meditation technique. The control group, Group B, included 22 healthy volunteers with little knowledge of meditation, particularly Surat Shabda Yoga. These participants had no prior experience with the practice. Surat Shabd Yoga is a meditation practice rooted in the teachings of the Oriental Saints, designed to elevate consciousness. In this practice, meditators direct their attention to the "seat of the spirit," believed by Eastern mystics to be located between and slightly behind the eyes, enabling a profound spiritual experience. The primary objective of selecting participants with long-term, uninterrupted meditation practice was to examine the effects of extended meditation on immune status. We ensured that all volunteers were free of any diseases and obtained informed consent from each participant before they joined the study. The consent form provided details about the study and gathered information regarding any history of infectious or congenital disorders.9 At the time of sample collection, the participants were required to be free from symptoms such as a runny nose or sore throat, and those exhibiting these symptoms were excluded from the study. The Institutional Board for Consciousness Studies approved the protocols, and the Institutional Ethics Committee granted ethical clearance for human subjects. Saliva collection was conducted according to Salimetrics guidelines, with samples collected between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Participants received an instruction sheet and consent form at least one day before sample collection. To measure IgA titers in saliva, we employed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)