Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Summary of Results by Category
Section 3: Category Details
Section 4: Additional Observations
These facts summarize the overall success of the Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology program: For all disorders, 1495 numerical reports were filed following the third session. The average percent improvement was 42.3%. This was for chronic disorders with an average duration of 13.8 years. As a result of consultations lasting only 4–5 days, participants reported significant improvement (here defined as 25% or greater) in two thirds of the cases (991 out of 1495) and 100% relief in 83 instances!
These are the most important charts:
Chart 1. Average Percent Improvement by Session
This shows the cumulative improvement from first to second to third session.
Chart 2. Totals for All Disorders
This is a pie chart showing that two thirds reported improvement of 25% or more.
Table 2. Categories of Disorders Sorted According to Number of Participants Reporting
This shows which disorders were requested and reported on most commonly. Seven of the most common disorders (Musculoskeletal, Mental and Gastrointestinal disorders, Pain as the primary problem, Respiratory problems and Cardiovascular and Gynecological disorders) account for more than 70% of the disorders addressed. In addition to being among the most requested disorders, these seven are among the disorders showing the greatest improvement, with a combined average percent improvement of 45.55%.
Chart 3. Average Percent Improvement by Disorder
This may be the single most important chart in this report. It lists the categories of disorders from least to most successful.
During the first six months of the project six teams of Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology (MVVT) Experts travelled to 25 locations for more than 2000 consultations. Although a thorough analysis of our research data will take many months to complete, I thought it would be useful to provide a "sneak preview" of the data we have collected so far.
A typical consultation consists of three sessions over a four or five day period. Each session addresses an average of two disorders. Approximately two-thirds of the participants filled out evaluation forms after their sessions, and so far we have entered 7,931 reports. While only half of these reports have the "Percent Improvement" field filled in, many people who did not provide a numerical rating reported significant results in their comments. Others indicated that, after just four or five days, it was too soon for them to evaluate their progress.
Chart 1 follows the progress of the 619 participants who filed numerical reports after all three sessions. It shows that the results are cumulative—the average percent improvement increased from the first session to the second, and again from the second to the third session.
We are in the process of gathering and analyzing longterm follow-up data. Although we do not yet have statistical results, anecdotal reports suggest that, for many participants, their conditions continue to improve in the weeks and months following their consultations.
Participants filed 1,495 numerical ratings after their third session. For these reports, the average improvement was 42.3 percent. This is a remarkable level of relief, since it was from chronic disorders with an average duration of 13.8 years and was gained within a four-to-five day period. In two-thirds of the cases (989 out of 1495), these participants reported a 25–100 percent improvement. In 83 instances, 100% relief was reported!
Table 1 and Chart 2 show the quartile totals for all disorders.
Relief from Symptoms | Number of Reports | Percent of Total |
---|---|---|
75 - 100% improved | 362 | 24% |
50 - 74% improved | 335 | 22% |
25 - 49% improved | 292 | 20% |
less than 25% | 506 | 34% |
Total Number of Reports | 1,495 |
The MVVT program provided consultations for the 24 categories of disorders listed in Table 2 as well as for disorders "Not On List." Table 2 describes the prevalence of numerical reports for the various disorders and provides an indication of which disorders were requested most. The various categories of disorders are sorted according to the number of participants who filled in the "Percent Improvement" field. Table 2 lists the Disorder Categories, the Number of Participants and the Percentage of Total. The Number of Participants field gives the number of participants who provided a numerical estimate of their percent improvement. The Percentage of Total field compares the Number of Participants to the Total for all disorders.
Disorder Categories | Number of Participants |
Percentage of Total |
---|---|---|
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS | 286 | 19.13% |
MENTAL DISORDERS | 282 | 18.86% |
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS | 207 | 13.85% |
NOT ON LIST | 181 | 12.11% |
PAIN AS THE PRIMARY PROBLEM | 144 | 9.63% |
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS | 63 | 4.21% |
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS | 48 | 3.21% |
VISION PROBLEMS | 41 | 2.74% |
SKIN DISORDERS | 37 | 2.47% |
OTHER PROBLEMS (Weakness, Fatigue, Vertigo) | 35 | 2.34% |
GYNECOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 26 | 1.74% |
RINGING OF THE EARS | 24 | 1.61% |
IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 20 | 1.34% |
ENDOCRINE DISORDERS | 19 | 1.27% |
ANO-RECTAL DISORDERS | 14 | 0.94% |
PROSTATITIS | 14 | 0.94% |
NUMBNESS | 13 | 0.87% |
HEARING PROBLEMS | 13 | 0.87% |
EYE PROBLEMS | 10 | 0.67% |
BENIGN TUMOR | 4 | 0.27% |
DENTAL RELATED | 4 | 0.27% |
PARALYSIS | 3 | 0.20% |
PARKINSON'S DISEASE | 3 | 0.20% |
UTERINE FIBROIDS | 2 | 0.13% |
WOUNDS | 2 | 0.13% |
TOTAL FOR ALL DISORDERS | 1495 |
Table 3 and Chart 3 compare the disorder categories in terms of their success. Table 3 shows the distribution of reports between the four quartiles (75 to 100% improved, 50 to 74 % improved, 25 to 49% improved and less than 25% ), the Total Number of Reports for each category of disorders and the Average Percent Improvement for each disorder.
Disorder Category | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total Number of Reports | Average Percent Improvement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MENTAL DISORDERS | 100 | 60 | 49 | 73 | 282 | 50.61 |
PARALYSIS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 50.00 |
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS | 20 | 18 | 7 | 18 | 63 | 48.38 |
GYNECOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 46.19 |
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS | 49 | 56 | 35 | 67 | 207 | 44.08 |
PAIN AS THE PRIMARY PROBLEM | 39 | 29 | 25 | 51 | 144 | 43.78 |
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS | 11 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 48 | 42.67 |
UTERINE FIBROIDS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42.50 |
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS | 60 | 74 | 72 | 80 | 286 | 42.39 |
TOTALS FOR ALL DISORDERS | 362 | 335 | 292 | 506 | 1495 | 42.30 |
NOT ON LIST | 39 | 42 | 42 | 58 | 181 | 39.61 |
ANO-RECTAL DISORDERS | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 38.57 |
ENDOCRINE DISORDERS | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 38.16 |
PROSTATITIS | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 37.86 |
OTHER PROBLEMS (Weakness, …) | 8 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 35 | 37.14 |
SKIN DISORDERS | 6 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 37 | 35.27 |
DENTAL RELATED | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 35.00 |
IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 33.00 |
NUMBNESS | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 32.77 |
BENIGN TUMOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 30.00 |
WOUNDS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22.50 |
VISION PROBLEMS | 2 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 41 | 21.85 |
PARKINSON'S DISEASE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18.33 |
EYE PROBLEMS | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 18.00 |
RINGING OF THE EARS | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 24 | 10.67 |
HEARING PROBLEMS | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 9.62 |
Chart 3 lists the disorder categories in terms of their average percent improvement. The number of reports that each average is based on is given in parentheses after the disorder name.
In this section we will examine the disorders in more detail. Seven of the most prevalent categories which are also among the most responsive to the MVVT program include Musculoskeletal, Mental and Gastrointestinal disorders, Pain as the primary problem, Respiratory problems and Cardiovascular and Gynecological disorders. These account for more than 70% of the disorders addressed, with a combined average percent improvement of 45.55%.
The average percent improvement for all nine musculoskeletal disorders is 42.39%. Table 4 lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 4 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Back pain | 29 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 114 |
Osteoarthritis | 13 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 80 |
Rheumatoid Arthritis | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 31 |
Disk-related problems | 1 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 29 |
Sciatica | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
Frozen shoulder | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
Stress Fracture | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Heel spurs | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Spondylitis of the neck | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Totals | 60 | 74 | 72 | 80 | 286 |
The average percent improvement for all eight mental disorders is 50.61%. Table 5 lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 5 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder. The results for Grief, Emotional Instability, Anxiety, Depression and Anger are quite striking.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anxiety | 41 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 98 |
Insomnia | 12 | 10 | 14 | 33 | 69 |
Depression | 21 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 48 |
Anger | 12 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
Grief | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
Emotional Instability | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
Forgetfulness | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
Phobia | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Totals | 100 | 60 | 49 | 73 | 282 |
We have no numerical reports for Anorexia, Dysentery, Gastric or Duodenal ulcer, Heartburn, Liver enlargement or Hepatitis. For the remaining seven Gastrointestinal Disorders, the average percent improvement is 44.08%. Table 6, below lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digestive problems | 36 | 45 | 25 | 51 | 157 |
Irritable bowel syndrome | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 20 |
Constipation | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
Gastritis | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Colitis | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Hyperacidity | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Anemia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Totals | 49 | 56 | 35 | 67 | 207 |
Chart 6 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
We do not have numerical reports for Pain following herpes zoster or Pain from cancer. For the remaining six disorders, the average percent improvement is 43.78%. Table 7, below lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 7 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pain syndrome | 29 | 19 | 19 | 35 | 102 |
Tension headache | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
Migraine headache | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
Other headache | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 13 |
Neuralgia | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Totals | 39 | 29 | 25 | 51 | 144 |
For the three disorders in this group, the average percent improvement is 48.38%. Table 8 lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 8 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asthma | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 30 |
Bronchitis | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
Sinusitis | 8 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 27 |
Totals | 20 | 18 | 7 | 18 | 63 |
For these four disorders, the average percent improvement is 42.67%. Table 9, below lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 9 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hypertension | 3 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 18 |
Peripheral vascular disease | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 16 |
Ectopic heart beat (palpitations) | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 13 |
Stable angina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Totals | 11 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 48 |
The dramatic improvement for Stable Angina is based on only one participant who filed a numerical report after his third session, but it deserves consideration nonetheless. This participant is a 47 year old man who had angina for 9 years and indicated that "in 1990 the hospital thought I had tissue damage." He complained of "pain in heart from lower front to the back, numbness in left side, hand leg and face, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath" and he listed his condition as severe and disabling, and the frequency of occurrence as daily.
After his first session he reported 70% improvement and wrote, "The pain and pressure I felt before the sessions is now relieved. I have such a feeling of lightness." After his second session he reported 85% improvement and wrote, "I feel a release of pain and discomfort. I woke up with only about 30% pain I normally feel." After his third session he reported 100% improvement and wrote, "Since yesterday's treatment no pain at all. This morning I felt no pain or pressure. I have a lot more energy."
An 85 year old woman also had a consultation for angina. She did not indicate a numerical evaluation, but wrote simply, "What I don't understand I accept as helping me." Her caregiver wrote:
"Following 1st session she said she felt good, but not better or worse than when she went in. However, after being out for 2 hrs she would usually have been very tired, and she wasn't. She was bright in the evening also and slept well & awoke with alertness. She got herself up without waiting for me to come home & encourage her. She tolerated going out in a very blowy day with more appearance of stamina too."
After her second session, the woman indicated 100% improvement. (This was not picked up by my database query because the query selected only third session results.) She wrote that she was "pain free right now." She did not indicate a numerical result after her third session, but wrote, "Have enjoyed the gracious good treatment, have received relief, thank you all for taking good care of me."
These results, coupled with the strong results for ectopic heart beat and hypertension, suggest that the MVVT program may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease and that this possibility is worthy of further study.
For these four disorders, the average percent improvement is 46.19%. Table 10, below lists the disorders in order of prevalence and shows the distribution of participant reports across the four percent improvement quartiles. Chart 10 shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Menopausal difficulties | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
Menstrual disorders | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Premenstrual syndrome | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Gynecological problems | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Totals | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 26 |
For these eleven categories of disorders, the number of participants ranged from 2 (Uterine Fibroids) to 37 (Skin Disorders). The reported results ranged from 30% (Benign Tumor) to 50% (Paralysis). These results are described in Table 11 and Chart 11, below.
Disorder Category | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANO-RECTAL DISORDERS | |||||
Hemorrhoids | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
Anal fissure | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
SKIN DISORDERS | |||||
Psoriasis | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13 |
Eczema | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
Atopic dermatitis | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Burning or itching sensations | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
OTHER DISORDERS | |||||
General weakness | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
Chronic fatigue syndrome | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 18 |
Vertigo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
NUMBNESS | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
PARALYSIS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
UTERINE FIBROIDS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
ENDOCRINE DISORDERS | |||||
Diabetes | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
Thyroid problems | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Adrenal gland problems | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Kidney disorders | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS | |||||
Allergies | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 20 |
PROSTATITIS | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
BENIGN TUMOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
DENTAL PAIN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
This group of disorders was the least responsive to the MVVT program, at least in the short term. Table 12 and Chart 12 show the results.
Disorder | 75 to 100% improved | 50 to 74% improved | 25 to 49% improved | Less than 25% | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vision problems | 2 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 41 |
Ringing of the ears (tinnitis) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 24 |
Hearing problems | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 |
Eye problems | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
Parkinson's disease | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Wounds | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
A few quick queries of the database enable us to look at a number of parameters, including duration, severity, degree of disability, frequency of occurrence, type of pain and age and gender.
I looked at three intervals (less than 3 years duration, the open interval from 3 to 10 years and 10 years to 40 years). For the Null fields, in which the participant didn't fill in the duration fields on his or her application, the duration of the disorder is unknown. If we assume the Null fields indicate that the disorder was of short duration, then the average percent improvement for the shortest period would be 42.37%.
For each disorder, applicants indicated whether the severity of their disorder was Mild, Moderate, Severe or Very Severe. Also, many applicants left that field blank (which is recorded in our database as Null). The results are shown in Chart 14, below. It is, perhaps, not surprising that the Very Severe disorders should be the most resistant to improvement.
Chart 20 shows the average percent improvement for all the disorders for which we have three or more participant reports.
© 2012 by Maharishi Vedic University, The Netherlands
in collaboration with Maharishi Ayurveda Foundation, USA. All rights reserved.