Transcendental Meditation may help your family cope with ADHD. Almost every family I know theses days has some issue with ADHD. Has it got worse, or is it just that much more visible these days because we have a name for it?
Now a “New study shows Transcendental Meditation improves brain functioning in ADHD students“, issued by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, describes new research on TM and ADHD published recently in the US journal Mind & Brain, The Journal of Psychiatry (Vol 2, No 1, 79-87)
Here is the link:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-07/muom-nss072611.php
The study found significant improvements in brain functioning measured by EEG, and also verbal fluency, after three months of practising TM; these improvements were compared with a control group of children that did not learn TM.
An earlier study, published in 2009 in Current Issues in Education, had found improvements in ADHD symptoms and reductions in anxiety and depression among the children studied. [That was an exploratory study, without a control group.]
All of this, and more, is well covered in the news release.
Causes of ADHD?
An imbalance of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin is associated with ADHD. The precursors seem to be rooted in lifestyle issues. Ayurveda regards ADHD as an imbalance of the Vata dosha.
Active ingredients in most ADHD medications include amphetamines making the frontal area more active, while the drug is acting. These substances are known to be associated with mood disturbances, are a bandaid measure, and may suppress natural brain growth and development.
The Transcendental Meditation technique has shown exciting results for children with ADHD and other problems such as Asberger’s and mood disorders. Transcendental Meditation technique doesn’t just treat the symptoms, but seems to positively influence the cause of the problem. This means that TM doesn’t just create a temporary masking, but may be able permanently to improve the condition.