Study Reveals Benefits of Meditation and Gayatri Mantra in Managing Chronic Urticaria

The study underscores the significant role of integrative medicine, particularly the combination of Gayatri Mantra (GM) chanting and meditation with standard pharmacotherapy, in enhancing the therapeutic outcomes for patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

The findings suggest that incorporating GM chanting and meditation into routine clinical practice could serve as an effective adjunctive therapy for CSU. This approach could be particularly beneficial for patients who do not achieve full remission with pharmacotherapy alone,” the lead author Dr. Shambo Samrat Samajdar, Department of CPT, Diabetes and Allergy Asthma Therapeutics Specialty Clinic, Kolkata, West Bengal, India told Medical Dialogues.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a troublesome skin disorder characterized by persistent itchy, swollen hives and angioedema lasting over 6 weeks with no known cause, causing both physical discomfort and impacting patients' appearance and social interactions.

Current treatments for CSU focus on symptom management with antihistamines, montelukast, cyclosporine, and biologics, though not all patients achieve full relief, even at higher doses. The Gayatri Mantra (GM), a revered Hindu chant, is believed to enhance mental calmness and spiritual growth, with early studies suggesting that such spiritual practices may reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

To explore the effect of Gayatri Mantra chanting and meditation on anxiety levels and symptom control in patients with CSU, Dr. Shambo Samrat Samajdar and the team gathered together to conduct a prospective observational study where they included 119 patients with CSU who had been on antihistamines for at least 6 months. This study was conducted at the Diabetes and Allergy Asthma Therapeutics Specialty Clinic in Kolkata, India

Participants were randomized into two groups:

1. Group A received standard pharmacotherapy,
2. Group B received the same pharmacotherapy along with daily GM chanting and meditation.

The study result reveals the following:

• Both groups demonstrated notable improvements in UAS7, CU-Q2oL, and DLQI scores after treatment.
• Group B, which received both pharmacotherapy and the spiritual intervention, exhibited a 49.4% reduction in Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7), a 52.9% improvement in Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) scores, and a 73.7% improvement in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores.
• In contrast, Group A (pharmacotherapy alone) showed comparatively lower improvements, with 41.9%, 42.5%, and 60.5% reductions, respectively.

Dr. Shambo Samrat Samajdar further concluded that “stress and anxiety are known exacerbators of CSU, the integration of these mind-body practices can contribute to better disease control by mitigating psychosocial stressors, thereby potentially reducing the frequency and severity of flare-ups. From a broader perspective, this study advocates for the inclusion of culturally and spiritually relevant practices in public health strategies, particularly in regions where such practices are deeply rooted.”

Mentioning further research, the lead author said, “ To get promising outcomes we need further investigation through larger-scale RCTs and also longitudinal studies would help determine whether the benefits of GM chanting and meditation are sustained over time.” Furthermore he said that, “ there is a need to develop standardized protocols for incorporating GM chanting and meditation into CSU treatment, ensuring that the practices are implemented consistently and effectively across different clinical settings.”

Reference: Samajdar SS, Joshi SR, Mukherjee S, Samajdar S, Moitra S, Dutta RN. Evaluating the impact of Gayatri Mantra chanting and meditation on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: A prospective study. Aesthet Int 2024;2:28-33.