Hitherto, both the autonomic nervous system and innate immune system were regarded as systems that cannot be voluntarily influenced. The present study demonstrates that, through practicing techniques learned in a short-term training program, the sympathetic nervous system and immune system can indeed be voluntarily influenced. Healthy volunteers practicing the learned techniques exhibited profound increases in the release of epinephrine, which in turn led to increased production of anti-inflammatory mediators and subsequent dampening of the proinflammatory cytokine response elicited by intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin. This study could have important implications for the treatment of a variety of conditions associated with excessive or persistent inflammation, especially autoimmune diseases in which therapies that antagonize proinflammatory cytokines have shown great benefit.
From the Wim Hof endotoxin study. Wim practices a form of g-Tummo yoga, the same tradition as the monks studied by Benson in the OP.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034215/
From the Wim Hof endotoxin study. Wim practices a form of g-Tummo yoga, the same tradition as the monks studied by Benson in the OP.