Relaxation Response (RR)
Origins: In the 1960's, Herbert Benson of
Harvard University found that there is a
counterbalancing mechanism to the stress
response: just as stimulating an area of the
hypothalamus can cause the stress response,
so activating other areas of the brain results
in its reduction. He defined this opposite
state the "relaxation response."22- 24
.
Method/Pathophysiology: RR is a simple
practice that once learned takes 10 to 20
minutes a day to achieve relaxation. The
important characteristics of a relaxation
program are: α) repetition of a word, sound,
prayer, thought, phrase or muscular
movement, through which concentration is
achieved β) passive return to the repetition
when other thoughts intrude.
When an organism is stressed its
physiological response is the fight-or-flight
response, whereas when the body is no
longer in perceived danger, and the
autonomic nervous system functioning
returns to normal, the relaxation response
(RR) occurs. During RR, the body moves from
a state of physiological arousal, including
increased heart rate and blood pressure,
slowed digestive functioning, decreased
blood flow to the extremities, increased
release of stress hormones, and other
responses preparing the body to fight or
flight, to a state of physiological relaxation,
where blood pressure, heart rate, digestive
functioning and hormonal levels return to
their normal state.
Results/Benefits: The RR can reduce systolic
hypertension25, improve cardiac
rehabilitation26 and relieve medical
symptoms 27
.
There is compelling evidence that the RR
elicits specific gene expression changes in
people who practice either short-term or
long-term. The study results suggest
consistent and constitutive changes in gene
expression resulting from RR. These changes
may relate to long term physiological
effects.