Research
Medical Research
Acute pain relief after mantra meditation in children with Neuroblastoma undergoing anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapy.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
Neuroscientists at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City have used Naam meditation along with music from the Healing Beyond Medicine Music series created by Dr. Joseph Michael Levry to reduce pain in children being treated for a rare form of cancer, subsequently reducing the need for larger doses of medication during treatment.
Naam meditation was offered to families several days a week by experienced instructors. In many instances, parents, translators, and family members also participated. A single specific Mantram (“RaMaDaSa, Guru Ram Das and I Am” soundtracks provided by Dr Joseph Michael Levry) was played on an MP3 player in the background while an experienced meditation teacher taught and led the Mantram. These Mantram are used traditionally to build self-esteem, peace, and resilience. Mudras (hand gestures) and gentle breathing patterns (left nostril breathing, long exhalation, alternate nostril breathing) were interspersed with Mantram to help relieve tension and enhance relaxation and focus. On an average, the meditation instructor stayed with the patient for approximately 30 minutes.
Patients undergoing therapy for neuroblastoma experience severe generalized pain that is poorly controlled with conventional analgesics, including opioids. Nonpharmacologic interventions have the potential to reduce pain, anxiety, and analgesic requirements associated with this treatment that is now considered standard of care for high-risk neuroblastoma. Naam meditation therapy administered on an outpatient basis to children receiving immunotherapy was feasible and well tolerated by children of both sexes, aged 3 to 14 years with diverse language and ethnic backgrounds. It was observed that a single session of Naam meditation was associated with a 14% decrease in the amount of pain medication administered to manage pain per day of treatment. These pilot findings were so substantial that the study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology and an additional grant was issued for continued study.
Medical Research
Effects of Naam mindfulness meditation on surgical intensive care unit nurses.
New York-Presbyterian
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
There is growing evidence that interventions for health care professionals designed to enhance mindfulness may improve their well-being and thus the quality of care they can provide. This pilot study was designed to measure the effects of Naam Mindfulness Meditation on levels of stress, mindfulness, burnout and secondary traumatic stress among 23 surgical intensive care unit nurses. The primary hypothesis that the implementation of an on the unit 5 minute Naam Mindfulness Meditation will be beneficial in decreasing stress levels was found to be statistically significant. This pilot study revealed that it is feasible and acceptable to bring nurses together to teach mindfulness techniques and other forms of stress reduction while at work. Positive results in this small pilot study demonstrated the effectiveness of an on the unit 5 minute Naam Mindfulness Meditation on the well-being of the nurse participants by reducing stress, increasing mindfulness and decreasing secondary traumatic stress. There was a statistically significant decrease in stress levels recorded by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) developed by Cohen et al. (1983).
This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that workplace self-care measures have the capacity to combat the negative effects of the high intensity work environment of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The ability to create positive change in the frontline staff will prove to better the institution as a whole by preventing adverse outcomes for both the health care professional and subsequently the patient. The nurses who participated in this study requested space for wellness stress reducing breaks at work and due to the overwhelmingly positive response we are in the process of creating an on the unit serenity room. Furthermore, they expressed a strong desire for additional opportunities for taking a Naam mindfulness break during their busy shifts.
Medical Research
Chi gong with Naam vibration: new interventions for caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Institute on Aging, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Imitated and repeated exercises become an appropriate technique for people with dementia in initial stages and for their caregivers. Practicing Chi-Gong with Naam vibration is profitable in a physical, cognitive, emotional and relational perspective and contributes to prevention, wellbeing and maintenance of physical and mental health.
The aim of this study was to evaluate Chi-Gong with Naam vibration effects on persons with dementia and their caregivers. Two groups of people with mild to moderate dementia (N=19) from two different day hospitals practiced Chi-Gong during 6 months (24 sessions with exercises adapted to people with dementia). Their caregivers (N=19) practiced Chi-Gong as well during 3 months (12 sessions). All participants (N=38) were evaluated at the beginning
and at the end of the treatment of Chi Kung. In persons with dementia were measured cognitive state, depressive symptoms, change of behavior and health conditions. In caregivers were measured depressive symptoms and health conditions.
Regarding the people with dementia, we found significative statistical differences on the global behaviour disorders evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) (Kaufer & Cummings, 1999) to the six months (p=0.048). Also we found differences on their mood (p= p=0.046). This indicates that people with dementia improved their behaviour disorders after the Chi Kung intervention, decreasing the stress of the caregivers (p=0.038). Regarding the caregivers, we found significative statistical differences on their physical status, specifically on the balance, gait and strength, evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (Guralnik, 1994) to the six months (p= 0,041). Conclusions: the intervention of Chi Gong with Naan vibration has positive effects on the patients with dementia and their caregivers.
Medical Research
RESET • Respiratory Exercises For Social Emotional Teaching • helps students maximize their capacity for learning, relaxation, and creativity.
California State University Channel Islands
RESET (Respiratory Exercises for Social Emotional Teaching), is a program designed by Dr. Levry that uses breathing, movement and vocal exercises to help young students maximize their capacity to learn, be creative, and achieve a state of calm attentiveness. Official research on RESET, licensed to be developed and overseen by Naam Healing and Research Institute, a 501C3, was launched on August 19th, 2019 by California State University Channel Islands who is researching the effects of this bilingual program. RESET is being piloted for research in two Ventura County elementary schools and one Philadelphia school. This innovative, seven-minute per day program, created to be practiced and taught by school teachers in the classroom, was originally released in Mexico City under the name of MÁS RESPIRACIÓN CONSCIENTE and is currently serving hundreds of children per day in Mexico with tremendous success. It is lauded by parents and teachers for the tangible difference it has on children’s lives, and success and happiness in school.
Learn more at https://resetinitiative.com/