Integrative medical therapy:mediation and nitric oxide

[Guest guest]

Int J Mol Med. 2005 Oct;16(4):621-30.

Integrative medical therapy: Examination of meditation's therapeutic

and global medicinal outcomes via nitric oxide (Review).

Stefano GB, Esch T.

Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York,

College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.

Relaxation techniques are part of the integrative medicine movement

that is of growing importance for mainstream medicine. Complementary

medical therapies have the potential to affect many physiological

systems. Repeatedly studies show the benefits of the placebo response

and relaxation techniques in the treatment of hypertension, cardiac

arrhythmias, chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety and mild and moderate

depression, premenstrual syndrome, and infertility. In itself,

relaxation is characterized by a decreased metabolism, heart rate,

blood pressure, and rate of breathing as well as an increase in skin

temperature. Relaxation approaches, such as progressive muscle

relaxation, autogenic training, meditation and biofeedback, are

effective in lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure in

hypertensive patients by a significant margin. Given this association

with changes in vascular tone, we have hypothesized that nitric

oxide, a demonstrated vasodilator substance, contribute to

physiological activity of relaxation approaches. We examined the

scientific literature concerning the disorders noted earlier for

their nitric oxide involvement in an attempt to provide a molecular

rationale for the positive effects of relaxation approaches, which

are physiological and cognitive process. We conclude that

constitutive nitric oxide may crucially contribute to potentially

beneficial outcomes and effects in diverse pathologies, exerting a

global healing effect.