Meditation Increases Melatonin

For further information, contact: Ann Massion, Psychiatry Department, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, 55 Lake Ave. North, Worchester, MA 01655-1965; and Ranjie Singh, Medical Technology, 4056 Meadowbrook Dr. #138, London, Ontario N6L 1E4 Canada.

     Melatonin, one of the principal hormones producted by the pineal gland - also called the "third eye" - has received a lot of puboicity in its recent incarnation as little pills ingested to reset the body's biological clock after jet lag.  New research is showing that meditation may be an even more effective method of melatonin production, according to studies reported in Brain/Mind Bulletin.

     When researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center compared a group of meditators with a matched group of meditators, they found evidence of greater urinary traces of melatonin in the meditators.  A related study at the University of Western Ontario Research Park found increases in urinary traces in melatonin after a single meditation session.  The effect was observed in all subjects and was greater than that seen following ingestion of the melatonin tablets. 

     For further information, contact: Ann Massion, Psychiatry Department, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, 55 Lake Ave. North, Worchester, MA 01655-1965; and Ranjie Singh, Medical Technology, 4056 Meadowbrook Dr. #138, London, Ontario N6L 1E4 Canada.

Reprinted with permission of:  Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., Venture Inward Magazine   March/April 1997  -  page 10