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Contemplative meditation reduces ambulatory blood pressure and stress-induced hypertension: a randomized pilot trial

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 22, pages 138–140 (2008)Cite this article

A total of 52 pharmacologically untreated subjects with essential hypertension were randomly allocated to either 8 weeks of contemplative meditation combined with breathing techniques (CMBT) or no intervention in this observer-blind controlled pilot trial. CMBT induced clinically relevant and consistent decreases in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure if measured during office readings, 24-h ambulatory monitoring and mental stress test. Longer-term studies should evaluate CMBT as an antihypertensive strategy.

Emotional and psychological stress is an acknowledged risk factor and mediator of hypertension,1, 2 but it is still unknown whether stress-reducing techniques may effectively control essential hypertension.3, 4, 5 Numerous stress-reducing techniques have been investigated, as physical techniques (for example, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, yoga), cognitive and behavioural therapies (for example, talk therapies, meditation, guided imagery), stress management (for example, autogenic training) and biofeedback.5 Some of these techniques share common features (for example, breathing control) but may exert their effects via different underlying mechanisms. Contemplative meditation as a stress-reducing technique has been widely studied with divergent results. A recent systematic review of randomized clinical trials summarized that, at present, there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether or not meditation has a cumulative positive effect on blood pressure (BP).3 We therefore aimed to determine in a randomized controlled observer-blind pilot trial the differential effects of contemplative meditation combined with breathing techniques (CMBT) on BP at rest, ambulatory and during mental stress.

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Author notes

  1. J P Manikonda and S Störk: These authors share the authorship of this paper equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I, Center of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    J P Manikonda, S Störk, S Tögel, A Lobmüller, C E Angermann, R Jahns & W Voelker

  2. Center for Contemplative Meditation, Würzburg, Germany

    I Grünberg

  3. Department of Medicine I, Betriebsärztliche Untersuchungsstelle, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    S Bedel & F Schardt

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  1. J P Manikonda
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  2. S Störk
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  4. A Lobmüller
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  5. I Grünberg
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  6. S Bedel
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  8. C E Angermann
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  9. R Jahns
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  10. W Voelker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S Störk.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Human Hypertension website (http://www.nature.com/jhh)

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Manikonda, J., Störk, S., Tögel, S. et al. Contemplative meditation reduces ambulatory blood pressure and stress-induced hypertension: a randomized pilot trial. J Hum Hypertens 22, 138–140 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002275

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