National Institutes of Health Researches TM - Poorly

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "...is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives….”(1)

The David Lynch Foundation, a proponent of TM, states,

“...The National Institutes of Health have granted more than $26 million over the past 18 years to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on cardiovascular disease….”(2)

The TM movement likes to point out that there are over 600 published research projects showing the benefits of TM.  However, critics have pointed out that most TM research is of poor quality.  Inadequate controls, small samples, cherry picking of results, biased design, self-reporting, conflict of interest - the flaws are astonishing.(3)  Whether these flaws are due to poor researcher skills, researcher prejudice in favor of TM, or some other reasons, I don't know.

The NIH doesn't want researchers with conflicts of interest doing their research.  This led me to ask, who exactly is doing the NIH-funded TM research?  Are there any conflicts of interest?  

I have researched the names of most of the researchers studying TM with NIH money.  I’ve discovered that for virtually every study, many of the researchers are affiliated with TM.(4)  They are  Maharishi University of Management (MUM) professors, MUM researchers, MUM graduates, TM teachers.  People with these credentials have gone through months or years of TM indoctrination consisting of one-sided education and meditation retreats, which put people into suggestible states.  Further, many of these researchers work for TM for very little pay, as volunteers, or on work-exchange.  I consider these credentials indicative of bias towards TM.  In fact, I feel it would be appropriate to say that some people with such a background could be considered to have a “missionary” approach towards TM.

A few years ago, I attempted to contact NIH to alert them to the bias of many of their researcher. Unfortunately, what I learned is that the only "conflict of interest" they acknowledge is financial.  They do not consider belief/missionary zeal/faith to be conflicts of interest.  But that still leaves the question of if the NIH considers TM teachers, MUM professors, MUM researchers, etc., to lack financial conflict of interest.  After all, if an MUM professor publishes “positive” results, then more people might learn TM, and then more people might attend MUM, and then the professor might get a raise, or tenure.  Alas, the NIH website stated that concerns about conflicts of interest would only be considered before research has begun.  Also, they stated that the only strategy the NIH employs on conflicts of interest is to ask the researchers what steps they propose to take in order to eliminate the bias.

So, if you ever read that NIH research on TM has proven that TM is a unique, marvelous, beneficial technique for the human race, please consider the points above.  The research is probably seriously biased.

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(1) nih.gov

(2) davidlynchfoundation.org:  “...The David Lynch Foundation helps to prevent and eradicate the all-pervasive epidemic of trauma and toxic stress among at-risk populations through promoting widespread implementation of the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation (TM) program in order to improve their health, cognitive capabilities and performance in life…."

(3) TMFree.blogspot.com:  How to Design a Positive Study: Meditation for Childhood ADHD, Abstracts of Independent Research on Transcendental Meditation, Problems with TM Research by Barry Markovsky, Evaluating Heterodox Theories, including "Maharishi Effect" (Markovsky and Fales)

(4) I have highlighted in red those researchers for whom I found TM affiliations.  (Note: Variations in footnote style is due to copying directly from research papers).

1. Stress Reduction Programs in Patients with Elevated Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. 
Maxwell V. Rainforth, PhD, Robert H. Schneider, MD, Sanford I. Nidich, EdD, Carolyn Gaylord-King, PhD, John W. Salerno, PhD, and James W. Anderson, MD

2. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion with the Transcendental Meditation Program and Maharishi Consciousness-Based Health Care. 
Robert H. Schneider, MD, Kenneth G. Walton, PhD, John W. Salerno, PhD, and Sanford I. Nidich, EdD.
Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa.

3. Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease.
Maura Paul-Labrador, MPH; Donna Polk, MD, MPH; James H. Dwyer, PhD; Ivan Velasquez, MD; Maxwell Rainforth, PhD, Robert Schneider, MD, and C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD

4. Long-Term Effects of Stress Reduction on Mortality in Persons ≥55 Years of Age With Systemic Hypertension. 
Robert H. Schneider*, MD, Charles N. Alexander, PhD*, Frank Staggers, MD*,  Maxwell Rainforth, PhD*, John W. Salerno, PhD*, Arthur Hartz, MD, Stephen Arndt, PhD, Vernon A. Barnes, PhD+, and Sanford I. Nidich, EdD*
*From the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa; the West Oakland Health Center, Oakland, California; the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa; and the Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. +Vernon A. Barnes, PhD from Maharishi University of Management

5. Reduced Blood Pressure and Use of Hypertensive Medication (American Journal of Hypertension, January 2005).
Robert H. Schneider#, Charles N. Alexander#, Frank Staggers, David W. Orme-Johnson#, Maxwell Rainforth#, John W. Salerno#, William Sheppard, Amparo Castillo-Richmond", Vernon A. Barnes", and Sanford I. Nidich#
# From the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management (RHS, CHN, DWO-J, MR, JWS, SIN)
“ Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa graduates (VAB, AC-R)

6. Effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation on Functional Capacity and Quality of Life of African Americans with Congestive Heart Failure: A Randomized Control Study. 
Ravishankar Jayadevappa, PhD, Jerry C. Johnson, MD, Bernard S. Bloom, PhD, Sanford Nidich, EdD, Shashank Desai, MD, Sumedha Chhatre, PhD, Donna B. Raziano, MD, and Robert H. Schneider, MD
From the Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (RJ, JCJ, BSB, SD, SC); Elder Health Pennsylvania (DBR), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa (SN, RS). 

7. Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease.
Maura Paul-Labrador, MPH; Donna Polk, MD, MPH; James H. Dwyer, PhD; Ivan Velasquez, MD; Sanford Nidich, PhD., Maxwell Rainforth, PhD; Robert Schneider, MD;  C. Noel Barry

8. Neuroimaging of meditation’s effect on brain reactivity to pain. 
David W. Orme-Johnson(a), Robert H. Schneider(a), Young D. Son(b), Sanford Nidich(a), and Zang- Hee Cho(b)
a Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA 
b Departments of Radiological Sciences & Psychiatry and Human Behavior, MED SCI I, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California, USA

9. Effects of Stress Reduction on Carotid Atherosclerosis in Hypertensive African Americans. 
Amparo Castillo-Richmond, MD; Robert H. Schneider, MD; Charles N. Alexander, PhD†; Robert Cook, MD; Hector Myers, PhD; Sanford Nidich, PhD; Chinelo Haney, MBA; Maxwell Rainforth, PhD; John Salerno, PhD 
From the Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention (A.C.-R., R.H.S., C.N.A., S.N., M.R., J.S.), Maharishi University of Management, College of Maharishi Vedic Medicine, Fairfield, Iowa; the Department of Radiology (R.C.) and Biobehavioral Research Center (H.M., C.H.  [C.H. is a TM teacher]), Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, Calif; and the Department of Psychology (H.M.), University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.  
†Deceased. 
Correspondence to Amparo Castillo-Richmond, MD, Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention, Maharishi University of Management, College of Maharishi Vedic Medicine, 1000 North 4th St, FB 1134, Fairfield, IA 52557. E-mail amparo@mum.edu 

Transcendental Meditation : Research = Biased Advertising

At long last, critique emerges of Transcendental Meditation’s so-called “scientific data” which is really just masked advertising. Mere publication, even in scientific journals, does not demonstrate truth.

“Mysterious Disappearing Paper Finally Reappears In Another Journal “ was published on November 13, 2012  and may be read both here at “CardioBrief, a one-stop source for cardiology news and links”  and here in "Forbes". Larry Husten cited concerns about the re-publication of a TM study-cum-advertising which had previously been revoked before press by the Archives of Internal Medicine. Husten questioned this TM study now published in “Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes”. 

Husten reviewed the study’s mysterious retraction by The Archives of Internal Medicine, critiqued the study’s statistical methods and alluded to cult-like association of the researcher from the Institute of Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management.

In 1975 Herbert Benson compared the benefits from TM with other forms of Judeo-Christian prayer and, (lo!) found identical results. The same results have been repeated many times with various forms of meditation, prayer and restful states. Resting quietly for a few minutes daily, in prayer, day dreaming or contemplation proved beneficial without the use of a mystical fruit-flowers-handkerchief Hindu puja with secretive mystical mantra. Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine continues to provide medical support for meditative practices without a hidden agenda.

TM True Believers repeatedly site “over 600 scientific articles” of so-called research on Transcendental Meditation to justify that TM is the best method for stress management (or to solve any of life’s maladies, for that matter). Not one of those TM-cited journals compares TM to other forms of meditation or mindfulness practices.

On Monday November 12th, American Veteran’s Day, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien aired a few minutes with TM spokesperson Bobby Roth, speaking about TM to help military veterans cope with PTSD.

A man (anonymity requested) raised in the TM Movement by a former political candidate for TM’s Natural Law Party  offered us the following critique of CNN’s recent TM docu-sales pitch :

Ever since I donated to the TM movement twelve years ago I've been receiving all the requests for donations associated with every current event from the gulf war and having a Rakshasa as our president to affecting the presidential election and bringing rain or stopping rain, depending.  I found the deception incredibly blatant in this recent CNN piece on Veterans Day.  No talk of  Tony Nader or in movement lingo Maharaja Adhiraj Rajaraam, no talk of enlightenment, they didn't even mention Maharishi or the Holy Tradition, or for gods sake the The Beatles!!!  This was a pure propaganda piece focused on the angle of perceived benefits for veterans.  Yes, finding religion and a simple belief system that has all the answers to life can be soothing to the soul, but guess what we have many REAL religions on earth today and these veterans don't need to be lied to and manipulated by one of the largest eastern religious cults in America.  Not to mention the very real side effects of falling down the TM rabbit hole!!!!

In this couple minute clip they hit the following points:

1)  The solution to all problems

2)  Heals the brain by removing deep stress

3)  Simple, easy, mental technique

4)  Non religious, yet at the same time the common denominator of all religions

5)  Benefits everyone not just veterans

6)  Young people are the ones we can convert

7)  Its a therapy, tested, sound, the missing element regular medicine is no longer needed yet its in addition to that regular medicine

8)  Government funded to give illusion of credibility

9)  Its just like going to a yoga class

So deceptive and I find it amazing that one of the shows hosts (that learned) doesn't mention the Puja or Maharishi or Guru Dev or anything else spicy.  No wonder people fall for this pitch, our media is asleep at the wheel.  I guess if you can fool Oprah you can fool these amateurs.

Now Transcendental Meditation Wants YOUR Money to Hoodwink Prince Charles!

It's my day for wading through TM Org emails from TM Admin appealing for funds.

This one bothers me more than most.

It seems Prince Charles’s Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health has commissioned a film in which 18 "scrupulous organizations" will present their sales pitches on each of their approaches to "integrated health."

The TM Org is crowing that they've been invited to participate.

The kicker is that each participating organization has to pay £12,500 to buy into the project (approximately $19,000 US). I guess the UK TM Org doesn't have that kind of spare change available.

What a great opportunity to raise funds from true believing TMers! What a great way to gain sadly needed credibility for the TM Org!

What a great way to take advantage of British royalty celebrity!

I will be writing an email to the Foundation and to Prince Charles decrying his support for the TM Org.

I hope others will consider doing the same. If anyone writes one that they feel covers most of the bases, I hope you will consider posting it in the comments below to give the rest of us ideas.

Below are quotations from the email:

Prince Charles’s Foundation for Integrated Health has commissioned a film on different approaches to integrated health. Transcendental Meditation has been invited, along with just 18 organisations to participate. We can determine what interviews and other footage makes up our section, which will end up as about 3.5 minutes. We will also have full copyright over all footage (probably about 2 hours or so) and can do what we want with it, afterwards. The film will be premiered at the Foundation for Integrated Health’s annual meeting 8,9,10 July at the Royal Society of Medicine. In addition to being shown on the big screen there, it will be distributed on DVD to every PCT, NHS Trust, and Strategic Health Authority, will be available on the FIH’s website, and Natural Health magazine will also circulate it. [Emphasis in the original.]

The tone will be positive, and only scrupulous organisations have been invited, so they can present themselves as an example of best practice in their area. We will approve all copy before it is used. No organisation will be approached that we would see as a rival: our topic (meditation) will be exclusive....

Clive Owen, the Programme Director, was favourably impressed by the recent American University study on blood pressure in students that I mentioned to him, and said that this was exactly what they were looking for: objective verification, personal empowerment, natural, and preventive. In fact, he said TM seemed to him to be “the most natural approach of all”.... Can Britain learn something from the USA? As you probably know, federal funding in the US for research on Transcendental Meditation and cardiovascular disease has amounted to over $24 [sic] so far and independent scientists are publishing positive results regularly....

Please let me know by return [email] if you are inspired to support this project yourself (pledged donations would enable us to commit to the plan and pay later) or can share this with others who may like to support.... [Emphasis in the original.]

---

Dear Sidha,

A very special opportunity has arisen to share information about Transcendental Meditation with a wider public. I know you would like to know about it....

We have currently raised £7000 of the £12,500 needed for this once-off opportunity...

With best wishes,

Charles Cunningham
Teacher of Transcendental Meditation

Phone 020 8894 9229
Mobile 07852 279 176
Skype charleshcunningham
www.t-m.org.uk

Just think of all those shiny new DVDs pushed into the hands of young school children, congresspeople, Oprah....

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

— Edmund Burke

J.