Health News: Top Stories

Real Life Solution: Combating PTSD with TM
by Dr. David Leffler

Veterans Today Translate This Article
23 July 2011

On 23 July 2011 Veterans Today reported: On behalf of the David Lynch Foundation's Operation Warrior Wellness initiative, veterans like WWII pilot Jerry Yellin are urging the US Department of Defense and Veterans Administration officials to add a different modality to their treatment programs for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), one which has already been extensively scientifically validated to reduce stress--the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. It is a joy for Global Good News service to feature this news, which indicates the success of the life-supporting programmes Maharishi has designed to bring fulfilment to the field of health.

The article describes Transcendental Meditation^® as ''a simple, non-religious, psychophysiological practice, demonstrated in over 600 research studies to reduce a wide variety of stress-related problems. It is practiced twice a day for twenty minutes and is so easy to learn that anyone who can think a thought can do it. The TM technique carries one's awareness to a profound level of rest, clears out deep-seated stress, and revitalizes frazzled nervous systems.''

Author Dr David Leffler* describes scientific research showing ''that the deep rest gained during TM practice is more profound than deep sleep. This allows the body to rid itself of deeply rooted stresses, especially the stress associated with traumatic conditions like PTSD.''

In particular, Dr Leffler draws attention to ''meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals [that] provide more evidence for the superior effectiveness of the TM technique over other practices in the areas of anxiety reduction, reduced high blood pressure, self-development, physiological relaxation, improved psychological outcomes, and decreased use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.''

Dr. Leffler also discusses research on Vietnam veterans showing reduced PTSD symptoms, and a new study in Military Medicine on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who experienced ''a 50% drop in PTSD symptoms by the fourth week of TM practice, and even greater improvements by two and three months''. (The study, in press at the time of the Veterans Today article, was published in the June issue of Military Medicine.)

Click here to read the complete article in Veterans Today, which also highlights EEG research distinguishing among different forms of meditation; and describes the use of this program among military in Latin America.

* Dr. Leffler, a United States Air Force veteran, later served as an Associate of the Proteus Management Group at the Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College. He is currently executive director of the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS).

© Copyright 2011 Veterans Today
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