Classical Meditation Is Efficient De-Stressing For Persons Dominated By The Left Hemisphere, Especially, Concludes A Health Technology Assessment By Torben Larsen

The action-mechanism of meditation is evidenced as the general biological process of homeostatic balancing of interactive regulatory systems. This applies to persons dominated by the left hemisphere, especially; so, meditation is not recommended to the minority of persons dominated by the right hemisphere. The cognitive style of relative more men than women are dominated by the left hemisphere. A critical review of international medical databases identify good medical trials on meditative in-depth-relaxation by a variety of approaches including Transcendtal Meditation (TM), Acem meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Qigong Meditation and Autogenic Training. Evidenced outcomes regarding stress comprise comprehensive health indicators as: 1) reduction of blood pressure, 2) reduction of the stress hormone cortisol and anziety as well as 3) better smoking cessation. A query by the internet conducted by the author demonstrates a good user compliance to the medical findings. The mental benefits of meditation are complementary to exercise: while exercise increases endurance meditation increases flexibility. A simple health program balancing exercise and meditation might prevent the majority of diseases in the industrialized countries according to experts in psychosomatic health as Herbert Benson. The comprehensive economic evaluation is that meditation is a cost-efficient private investment due to better quality of life and extra pension years, especially.

(PRWEB) May 22, 2006 -- Chapter 2 of the report presents a health technology assessment (HTA) aiming a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the conditions for and consequences of meditation towards stress. It is conducted by health economist Torben Larsen, guest professor at the International Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS). This part of the project has been supported financially by the Danish Centre of Research in Alternative Medicine (ViFAB) and has been presented to the Annual Meeting of the International Society for HTA.

Chapter 1 perspectivates the empirical findings presenting the triune brain model advanced by Paul McLean and elaborated by Gerald Cory as framework for explanation of the problem of mental balance. According to this line of brain research the relative balance of left, analytic hemisphere and the right, empatic hemisphere is crucial to our mental capacity. Due to our genetic heritage from the stone age dominance of the left hemisphere is normal. In our modern HiTec society dominance of the left hemisphere is demonstrated by sociological trials to have serious negative side-effects as 1) reductionist decision-making, 2) over-consumption and psychosomatic diseases. Complete the cognitive style quiz to have an indicator for your personal hemispheric balance.

Chapter 3 presents a logic of complementarities for advanced self-management of meditation for users with a positivistic set of values as an alternative to a classical, spiritual guidance. Tfinally, this new logic is tested towards global challenges.

As the book elaborates the concept of 'economic man' it is entitled 'Neuropsychology for Economists' addressing professional decision-makers. It is available as paperback (ISBN 978-1-4116-8808-7) from Lulu Press, the world's fastest-growing provider of print-on-demand books. Quotes from a Danish test-version of the report:

The specialist in general medicine, Carsten Vagn Hansen, recommends the book due to the unique presentation and balanced evaluation of the scientific meditation research in an interview with Torben Larsen on the family channel DK4.

The litterature expert, Helga Smidt, concludes in a review on the Danish Cultural Navigator that this concept of meditation enriches the Ego in a Western way instead of destroying the Ego in a classical Eastern way.

The local branch of AIESEC at University of Southern Denmark recommends internal seminars on stres management based on the book to other local branches of AIESEC as part of the AIESEC Sustainability Inititiative.

The book linking mental reinforcement to implementation of sustainable development is nominated for the IIAS Book Award 2006 presented at Intersymp 2006 in Baden-Baden in August.

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