Blood Pressure and Meditation

February 4, 2009

Many of the blood pressure medications, the " alpha and beta-

adrenergic inhibitors " work by interrupting the activity of

adrenalin, which excites the body to " fight or flight, " and can raise

the blood pressure, in many people. Meditation works in much the same

way. While one is meditating, one has a respite from those jumbled

thoughts and anxieties experienced in normal, daily life that cause

the body to produce adrenalin, and other excitatory physic-chemicals.

The body has the respite to return to homeostasis, that is, to

rebalance. If one meditates once or twice every day, the rebalancing

effect is greatly enhanced.

The mind is often and correctly called " a drunken monkey, " because of

the constant clamor of disorderly thought and internal dialogue.

Meditation quiets the monkey, giving the body the ability to heal

itself.

Some decades ago, a Westerner, a physician, I think, wrote a book

called " The Relaxation Response. " He noted that people who meditated

on the word " one " enjoyed lower blood pressure, among other physical

and emotional benefits. This was treated as a significant medical

discovery.. which was funny, since Easterners have employed this

technique for many millennia.

Of course, the primary benefit of yoga meditation is the elevation

and expansion of consciousness, sometimes to a divine degree. It is

often said that when one prays, one speaks to God, but when one

meditates, one listens to God.

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