Wednesday, January 07, 2009

TM and ADHD

A pilot study in Virginia, U.S. has found that transcendental meditation may be helpful for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Transcendental meditation is a simple meditation technique in which people sit comfortably for 10-15 minutes with their eyes closed, silently repeating a mantra (a sound, word or phrase) to calm the mind or body. Some studies have found that meditation can alter a range of bodily functions including breathing, blood-vessel dilation and stress-hormone regulation. The study had 10 participants, between the ages of 11 and 14, who were attending a school for students with language-related learning disabilities all of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD. The students were taught the transcendental meditation technique and then practised it at school twice a day for 10 minutes at a time. After three months the students reported lower stress and anxiety levels and, according to their teachers and parents, their ADHD symptoms had improved.

You can find out more about this research at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE5043P220090105?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&sp=true

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