For years it was believed
that once a blockage was formed in the heart there was no way to treat it other
than angioplasty or bypass surgery. Dr. Dean Ornish, a specialist from San Francisco , California
In 1987, he divided 48
heart patients into two groups of 28 and 20. The first group was given a low
cholesterol diet and taught to practice meditation and yoga for a year. In
addition, they were successfully motivated to give up smoking and encouraged to
develop compassion and empathy. The 20 members of the other group were treated
according the guidelines of the American Heart Association.
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After one year, it was
seen that for the first group, the process of blockage had not only stopped,
but reversed. This news was covered in the first page of New York Times. After
the incident, Mutual, an insurance agency based in Omaha US
Besides, there is no
guarantee that angioplasty or bypass will help the patient recover completely.
In fact studies show that between 25 to 50% of the patients suffer from
restenosis or recurrence of significant blockages within 4 to 6 months of an
angioplasty. Moreover, these traditional treatments are much more expensive.
Even back in 1993, an angioplasty cost $ 15,000 and a bypass operation cost
$40,000 in the US
For these reasons, Mutual
inspired its subscribers to participate in Ornish’s program and promised that
it would bear the cost of surgery in case the program failed. Among the 200,
190 patients completed the program. 189 of them were cured, only one needed
surgery.
This story was covered in
an article entitled Going Mainstream, in the June 26 issue of Newsweek.
Meditation as a treatment for heart disease has gained such widespread
acceptance that it hardly qualifies as alternative anymore, it is considered
part of the mainstream treatment of heart disease.
Textbooks on cardiology
are saying the same thing. Eugene Brauwald's: Heart Disease: A Textbook for
Cardiovascular Medicine is a textbook for millions of medical students. Page
1157 of the 8th edition of this book states that, "Mindfulness-based
stress reduction (MBSR) uses the techniques of mindfulness meditation, gentle
yoga and coordinated deep breathing to decrease pain and anxiety."
It further states,
"In a meta analysis, MBSR has been shown to help individuals alleviate
stress and suffering associated with various diseases----- meditation has been
shown not only to improve blood pressure but also the insulin resistance
components of the metabolic syndrome and cardiac autonomic nervous system tone
."
Hurst's- The Heart is
another textbook compiled from the contributions of world renowned researchers
and specialists from different countries. The 12th edition of this book states,
"Meditation and mindfulness constitute a very broad range of disciplines
providing tools that, with practice, cultivate personal access to calming of
the mind, with a variety of potential healing effects including reduction of
angina and improved quality of life. In addition to the use of these techniques
in cardiac rehabilitation programs, they can have a role in lifestyle
modification strategies associated with atheroregression in established
coronary disease. "
The day is not distant
when curriculum of cardiology students will include chapters on how to
meditate, so that they can learn it themselves and teach it to their patients.
In the last 20 years,
hundreds of people also recovered from heart disease after participating in the
Quantum Method Course. One decided to bypass the recommended bypass surgery 18
years ago and has been leading a healthy life ever since. Those who had already
undergone surgery regained their energy and vitality. The Quantum Heart Club
has been established to help people prevent and cure heart disease without
angioplasty or bypass surgery. By participating in the 2-day orientation
program and regularly attending the follow-up programs, hundreds of people are
progressing towards a healthy, happy, vibrant, long life.
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