A comparative study of effects of meditation and relaxation on biophysical parameters

Considering today's stressful and modern day hectic schedules Humanity is increasingly turning towards various lifestyle modifications. Unable to locate stability and serenity in the outside world people have directed their gaze towards meditation in a bid to attain peace of mind.

The background leading to the present study was that meditation is known to produce specific physiological response patterns that involve various biological systems. The present study was done with an intention to find out the effect of meditation on Biophysical parameters like Serum lipid profile and Blood pressure and then compare them with non-meditators undergoing relaxation.

The study was conducted on 30 Meditators and 30 Non-meditators who were used as controls, but were made to relax in the lying position. Blood pressure measurements were taken in three phases, that is 1) before 2) during and 3) after meditation or relaxation as per the respective group. Serum Lipid profile of all the subjects were also done in the fasting state in the morning.

On analysis it was revealed that lipid profile of meditators showed lower values in triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL (p<0.05) as compared to that of non-meditators. As regards Blood pressure, significant reduction (p<0.05)in the systolic and diastolic Blood pressures were found during the 2^nd and 3^rd phase of meditation, whereas, none of the three phases of relaxation showed any such effect.

Meditation has a Blood pressure lowering effect as well as lowering effect on Serum lipid profile parameters.