A systematic review of 144 studies found that
Transcendental Meditation was more effective in
reducing anxiety than other techniques (including
progressive muscular relaxation, methods claimed
to induce a Relaxation Response, and other forms
of meditation). The superiority of Transcendental
Meditation remained highly significant when only
the strongest and most rigorous studies were
included in the analysis. Transcendental Medita-
tion has also consistently been found to reduce
depression, hostility, and emotional instability,
indicating the growth of a more stable, balanced,
and resilient personality.
Transcendental Meditation has been found to
lead to decreased use of alcohol, cigarettes, and
nonprescribed drugs. A statistical meta-analysis
summarizing 19 studies on the effects of Transcen-
dental Meditation found the technique produced
substantial and highly significant reductions in
alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use, with larger
effects than other treatments, including standard
therapies and other techniques of meditation and
relaxation. Over an 18- to 24-month period absti-
nence ranged from 51 percent to 89 percent for
Transcendental Meditation compared to 21 percent
for good conventional substance abuse programs.
A controlled, randomized study conducted at
Harvard University found that elderly individuals
who learned Transcendental Meditation showed
significantly greater improvements in a variety of
age-related aspects of mental and physical health
and well-being than subjects taught other tech-
niques or a no-treatment control group. Those who
learned a relaxation procedure that attempted to
imitate Transcendental Meditation showed no
improvement on any measure. Most subjects prac-
ticing Transcendental Meditation rated their tech-
nique as useful and easy to practice, in contrast to
lower rates for the other techniques. Furthermore,
after three years, all those who had learned Tran-
scendental Meditation were still alive, in contrast
to significantly lower survival rates for the other
three groups and for the remaining inhabitants of
the institutions where the study was conducted.
Individual health affects the collective health of
a society. More than 40 controlled studies have
now shown that about 1 percent of the population
of a community practicing Transcendental Medita-
tion, or an even smaller fraction practicing the
advanced TM-Sidhi program, can lead to reduction
of problems such as violence, crime, accidents, dis-
ease, and suicides and to general improvement in
economic prosperity and well-being for the whole
society.
See also YOGA.trauma remedies In homeopathic medicine,
potentized remedies such as Arnica montana admin-
istered to individuals who have experienced a cat-
astrophic illness, injury, or event.
See also HOMEOPATHY.tribal healing practices See NATIVE AMERICAN
HEALING PRACTICES.tridoshas In Ayurvedic medicine the three body
or constitutional types known as vata, pitta,and
kapha (Sanskrit terms). The doshas reveal many
characteristics and tendencies of an individual,
who may be a combination of two or all the doshas.
Vatarelates to the elements ether and air, pittarep-
resents fire, and kaphacorresponds to water and
earth. Through analyzing the individual’s body
type and symptoms, Ayurvedic practitioners are
able to diagnose illness or predisposition to illness.
See also DOSHAS.154 trauma remedies