MEDITATION - A MODULATOR OF THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO PHYSICAL STRESS - A BRIEF REPORT

Objective - To test the hypothesis that stress reducing techniques suc h as meditation alter immune responses after strenous physical stress. Methods - The hypothesis was tested by studying six meditating and si x non-meditating male runners in a concurrent, controlled design. Afte r a period of six months with meditation for the experimental group, b lood samples were taken immediately before and after a maximum oxygen uptake test (VO2max). Results - The increase in CD8 + T cells after VO 2max was significantly less in the meditation group than in the contro l group (P = 0.04). The amount of CD2 + cells doubled after VO2max, ma inly because of a rise in the CD8 + fraction. Conclusions - Meditation may modify the suppressive influence of strenous physical stress on t he immune system.