Chanting and relaxation trial measured immediate changes in heart and blood-pressure readings
Both groups had lower blood pressure immediately afterward; chanting showed clearer between-group differences in heart rate and heart-rate variability.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Blood pressure and heart rate fell immediately after both activities. Compared with deep relaxation, Aum Kara chanting produced lower heart rate and a lower ratio of selected heart-rate variability measures. The abstract does not establish a lasting blood-pressure benefit, a reduction in cardiovascular events or superiority for blood-pressure control.
The comparison covered only an immediate response and did not include an inactive control group. The abstract gives no effect sizes, making the practical importance of the differences difficult to judge.
What researchers found
Heart-rate change
Aum Kara versus deep relaxation immediately after a 20-minute session; the absolute between-group difference was not reported.
What the measurements show
Researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate and components of heart-rate variability after the session. These are immediate physiological readings; the trial did not report whether the differences translated into sustained symptom or health improvements.
Within-group change is a separate question
A fall in blood pressure within both groups does not establish that chanting was better than relaxation for that outcome. The abstract's explicit between-group advantages concern heart rate and measures of heart-rate variability.
The original publication
Comparative Study of Deep Relaxation Technique and Aum Kara on Autonomic Nervous System Variables in Hypertensive Indians.
Chacko AK, Valsakumar A, Verghese S et al.
J Assoc Physicians India · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41100331
- Record checked
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