Summary of Research Findings

Research on the Maharishi Rejuvenation SM Program (continued)
3. Title
Health Promotion With a Traditional System of Natural Health Care: Maharishi Ayur-Veda
Publication
Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 1-27, 1990.
Authors
Robert H. Schneider,* Kenneth L. Cavanaugh,** H.S. Kasture,† Stuart Rothenberg,†† Richard Averbach,††
Donald Robinson,* and Robert Keith Wallace.*
Conducted at
**Department of Physiological and Biological Sciences, Maharishi International University,
Fairfield, IA 52556
**Department of Management and Public Affairs, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA 52556
††MAH Government Ayurveda Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
††Institute for Ayurvedic Studies, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA 52556
Summary
This study investigated the Maharishi Ayur-Veda Panchakarma § program and its effects on self-reported
mental and physical health. This program includes a set of physiological therapies that are recommended on
a periodic basis for enhancement of physiological homeostasis and promotion of mental and physical health.
In a first pilot study, 142 subjects were surveyed after a 1-2 week Maharishi Ayur-Veda Panchakarma program
for changes in health symptoms compared to 60 control subjects who participated in a didactic class for the
same period of time. In the second follow-up study, 62 consecutive subjects were tested before and after a
similar Maharishi Ayur-Veda Panchakarma program with the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and compared to
71 controls participating in a didactic class. The results for the pilot study showed that the experimental subjects
reported significantly greater improvements in well-being, energy-vitality, strength-stamina, appetite and
digestive patterns, previous complaints generally, and rejuvenation and youthfulness than control subjects
(p=0.05 to