Research Report

Section 1: Introduction

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, below, 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. Chart 1. Average Percent Improvement by 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, below, 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	1495

Table 1. Quartile Results for All Disorders following Third Session

Chart 2. Totals for All Disorders

Section 2: Summary of Results by Category

The MVVT program provided consultations for the 24 categories of disorders listed in Table 2, below, 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 2. Categories of Disorders Sorted According to Number of Participants Reporting

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 Improve-ment
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 (Fatigue, …)	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

Table 3. Disorder Categories Listed in terms of Success

Chart 3, below, 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.

Chart 3. Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Section 3: Category Details

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%

Musculoskeletal Disorders

The average percent improvement for all nine musculoskeletal disorders is 42.39%. Table 4, below, 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

Table 4. Musculoskeletal Disorders listed in order of prevalence

Chart 4. Musculoskeletal Disorders: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Mental Disorders

The average percent improvement for all eight mental disorders is 50.61%. Table 5, below, 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

Table 5. Mental Disorders listed in order of prevalence

Chart 5. Mental Disorders: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Gastrointestinal Disorders

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

Table 6. Gastrointestinal Disorders listed in order of prevalence

Chart 6, below, shows the average percent improvement for each disorder.

Chart 6. Gastrointestinal Disorders: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Pain as the Primary Problem

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

Table 7. Disorders of Pain as the Primary Problem listed in order of prevalence

Chart 7. Pain as the Primary Problem: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Respiratory Problems

For the three disorders in this group, the average percent improvement is 48.38%. Table 8, below, 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

Table 8. Respiratory Problems listed in order of prevalence

Chart 8. Respiratory Problems: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Cardiovascular Problems

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

Table 9. Cardiovascular Disorders listed in order of prevalence

Chart 9. Cardiovascular Disorders: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

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.

Gynecological Disorders

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

Table 10. Gynecological Disorders listed in order of prevalence

Chart 10. Gynecological Disorders: Average Percent Improvement by Disorder

Ano-rectal Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, Prostatitis, Other Problems (Weakness, Fatigue, Vertigo), Skin Disorders, Dental Related, Immunological Disorders, Numbness, Paralysis, Uterine Fibroids and Benign Tumor

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

Table 11. Assorted Disorder Categories with Varying Levels of Average Improvement

Chart 11. Disorders with Varying Levels of Average Improvement

Wounds, Vision Problems, Parkinson's Disease, Eye Problems, Ringing of the Ears, Hearing Problems

This group of disorders was the least responsive to the MVVT program, at least in the short term. Table 12 and Chart 12, below, show the results.

Disorder Category	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

Table 12. Miscellaneous Disorder Categories with Lowest Levels of Average Improvement

Chart 12. Disorders with Lowest Levels of Average Improvement

Section 4: Additional Observations

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.

Duration of the Disorder

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%.

Chart 13. Percent Improvement as a function of Duration of Disorder

Disorder Severity

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 14. Percent Improvement as a function of Severity

Degree of Disability

Chart 15. Percent Improvement as a function of Degree of Disability

Frequency of Occurrence

Chart 16. Frequency of Occurrence

Type of Pain

Chart 17. Type of Pain

Age and Gender

Chart 18. Relief by Age

Chart 19. Relief by Gender

Chart 20, on the following page, shows the average percent improvement for all the disorders for which we have three or more participant reports.

Chart 20. Disorder Detail View