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The study found that those in the Transcendental Meditation group were less likely to have returned to heavy drinking three months later.
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by Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, The Review
30 April 2018
A new study by scientists at Friends Research Institute in Baltimore found that practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique was able to help those with an addiction to alcohol.
Subjects in the research included 60 people who had been admitted to a treatment facility, half of whom learned the Transcendental Meditation technique.
The study found that those in the Transcendental Meditation group were less likely to have returned to heavy drinking three months later. None of those who closely adhered to the recommended routine of meditating twice daily had gone back to drinking heavily compared to 42% in the control group who had relapsed.
"This is an important finding," said coauthor Jamie Grant. "The fact that no participant in the twice-a-day group returned to heavy drinking is very encouraging."
The primary purpose of the study was to see if it was feasible to introduce the Transcendental Meditation technique as a treatment for alcoholics.
"The answer to this question was a strong yes," Dr. Grant said.
The study found that 85% meditated on a daily basis and 61% meditated twice a day. Participants reported high satisfaction with Transcendental Meditation.
"Most of the subjects who learned Transcendental Meditation enjoyed the practice and continued with it," Dr. Grant said.
The study also showed that practice of Transcendental Meditation (as opposed to just being instructed in it) was positively correlated with reductions in alcohol use and reductions in stress.
The study has been published online and will appear in the April issue of Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.
Maharishi University of Management (MUM) Professor Sandy Nidich was also a coauthor of the study.
© Copyright 2018 Maharishi University of Management
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