"The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest
that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress... and the opposite of the
fight or flight response."
Herbert Benson, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
and founder of the
Mind Body Medical Institute
824 Boylston St.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-2508
Phone: (617) 991-0102 Toll free: (866) 509-0732
MBMI@CareGroup.Harvard.edu
Herbert Benson, M.D. Harvard Medical School |
The crimson book that is a national best seller |
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Oxygen consumption decreases during meditation
indicating a low demand for oxygen during deep rest.
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First published study on meditation by Dr. Benson:
in 1971, "A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state"
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Benson, H.; Wallace, R., et
al. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,862 subjects.
In Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the International Conference,
ed. Chris J. D. Zarafonetis, pp. 369-376.
Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1972. |
Dr. Benson's research in to meditation
began with the Transcendental Meditation
technique, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi. But he is maintaining a neutral, objective
position, not aligning with any particular
meditation organization. For more information
on TM in particular, see www.TM.org
|
Herbert Benson, M.D., is the founding President of the
Mind/Body Medical Institute; Associate Professor
of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; and Chief of the
Division of Behavioral Medicine at the
Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center.
A graduate of Wesleyan University and the
Harvard Medical School, Dr. Benson is the author or
co-author of more than 170 scientific publications and seven books:
More than four million copies of his books have been printed in many languages.
Dr. Benson is a pioneer in mind/body medicine, as well as in bringing spirituality and
healing into medicine. Through his 35+ year career, he defined the relaxation response and continues
to lead teaching and research into its efficacy in counteracting the harmful effects of stress. The
recipient of numerous national and international awards, Dr. Benson lectures widely about mind/body
medicine and the M/BMI's work. His expertise is frequently sought by national and international news
media, and he appears in scores of newspapers, magazines, and television programs each year.
Dr. Benson's research extends from the laboratory to the clinic and to Asian field
expeditions. His work serves as a bridge between medicine and religion, East and West, mind and
body, and belief and science.
Wallace Robert K, Benson Herbert, Wilson AF. A wakeful hypometabolic
physiologic state. American Journal of Physiology 1971;221:795-9.
Benson Herbert, Wallace Robert K. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of
1,861 subjects. In: Zarafonetis CJD, ed. Drug Abuse - Proceedings of the International Conference.
Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1972:369-76.
Wallace Robert K, Benson Herbert. The physiology of meditation. Scientific American
1972;226:84-90.
Dr. Benson has been a pioneer with intestinal fortitude,
studying the physiological changes during meditation
techniques since 1968 as a professor at Harvard
helping them become acceptable topics of study. |
Dr. Benson and Dr.
Robert K. Wallace published first study,
"A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state"
in the American Journal of Physiology, 1971 |
Oxygen consumption decreased during meditation |
Carbon Dioxide output decreased during meditation |
Rate of breathing decreased during meditation |
Cellular ventilation decreased during meditation |
PO2, or oxygen concentration in the blood
remained constant, even increasing slightly |
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Blood lactate levels, an indicator of stress, decreased during meditation |
Oxygen consumption was deeper than during sleep |
Effects of Medicine |
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Links
Graduate
('61) and Associate
Professor of Medicine at Harvard
