Trials of Maharishi Ayurveda for cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of outcome studies with carotid intima-media thickness.
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: To investigate a multimodality, natural medicine systems approach-Maharishi Ayurveda (MAV)-for prevention or reversal of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Design: Pooled analysis of data from existing trials that used MAV to reduce carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Settings: Two large medical centers in the U.S. Midwest. Subjects: Thirty-four elderly patients with or at high risk for ASCVD. Interventions: , Ayurvedic diet, Ayurvedic exercise, and Ayurvedic herbal food supplements. Primary outcome measure: CIMT, a surrogate measure of ASCVD, was determined by B-mode ultrasonography. Results: << .01]. In the MAV group, those individuals showing the largest reductions in CIMT with treatment also had the highest risk factor levels at the start. Baseline data from this subgroup indicated the presence of hypertension, (systolic blood pressure (SBP) = 141 ± 11 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) = 80 ± 12 mmHg, means ± SD). They also had elevated waist circumference (91 ± 8 cm), and dyslipidemia (triglyceride-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio = 4.8 ± 2.9). Each individual in this "high-CIMT-change" group, 80% of whom were women, improved notably in one or more risk factors with the MAV intervention. Conclusions: The pooled results of these two trials suggest that MAV multimodality intervention programs, including the Transcendental Meditation technique and heart-healthy Ayurvedic diet, exercise, and herbal food supplements, may be effective in the regression of ASCVD, especially in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
Source: PubMed
Institution: University of Iowa
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4291285758