Title The Interrelated Physiological and Psychological Effects of EcoMeditation.
Author Groesbeck, Gary; Bach, Donna; Stapleton, Peta; Blickheuser, Katharina; Church, Dawson; Sims, Rebecca
Journal J Evid Based Integr Med Publication Year/Month 2018-Jan-Dec
PMID 29502445 PMCID PMC5871048
Affiliation + expend 1.1 National Institute for Integrative Healthcare, Fulton, CA, USA.

This study investigated changes in psychological and physiological markers during a weekend meditation workshop (N = 34). Psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and happiness were assessed. Physiological markers included cortisol, salivary immunoglobulin A (SigA), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (RHR). On posttest, significant reductions were found in cortisol (-29%, P < .0001), RHR (-5%, P = .0281), and pain (-43%, P = .0022). Happiness increased significantly (+11%, P = .0159) while the increase in SigA was nonsignificant (+27%, P = .6964). Anxiety, depression, and PTSD all declined (-26%, P = .0159; -32%, P = .0197; -18%, P = .1533), though changes in PTSD did not reach statistical significance. No changes were found in BP, HRV, and heart coherence. Participants were assessed for psychological symptoms at 3-month follow-up, but the results were nonsignificant due to inadequate sample size (n = 17). EcoMeditation shows promise as a stress-reduction method.

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