On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 6:27 AM, cardemaister <no_re...@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > "If Transcendental Meditation were a drug, conferring so many > benefits with few, if any, side effects, it would be a > billion-dollar blockbuster." > > - Norman E. Rosenthal, Transcendence: Healing and Transformation Through > Transcendental Meditation > > Wiki: > > Rosenthal began a private practice in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in > 1979.[2] At the same time he began a research fellowship with Fredrick > Goodwin at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, > Maryland. [3]This was the beginning of a 20 year career with the NIMH as a > Researcher, Research Fellow, and Senior Researcher.[2][4] Rosenthal > eventually became the director of seasonal studies at the institute and in > 1985 led research with 160 participants on the effects of SAD and later > studied the psycho-physiological phenomena of "spring fever". [5][6]
If TM were a drug, it would be an unapproved one. First put in the market because of it's wonderful effects then quickly taken off the market because of its horrific side effects. This happens with drugs all the time as clinicians start noting dangerous side effects with a wider population than in the studies, though many of the ontoward side effects observed during clinical trials are swept under the rug. TM would be eventually be classified as a Schedule I drug in the US, with the ability to waste lives at least as often as heroin. There are dangerous drugs which are put on and kept on the market because although they have a profile where the dangerous side effects are about as frequent as their useful properties, these drugs are prescribed in tightly monitored situations. That's not the situation with TM, where it's get everyone to buy it and many to use it 8 hours a day and if there's a problem, get more rest, take more time before going into activity after taking the drug, something good is happening or it's the patient's fault, they weren't suitable for the drug.
