What serious studies say — and do not say — about meditation, mantra, compassion, placebo and music.
Each question gets one of these four verdicts:
Each source links to PubMed, the public database of medical studies.
Unknown
No clinical trial has studied it. On PubMed, the only paper about it is a reflection piece for health workers, with no measurement and no control group. So we do not know whether it has its own effect on health.
Sources
Shown
Small to moderate effect, but no better than other active treatments (drugs, exercise, therapies). No shown effect on sleep, attention or weight. For chronic pain the evidence is of low quality.
Sources
Unknown
The large 2007 review says no firm conclusion is possible: most studies are of poor quality. A drop in blood pressure was seen, but in small, weak studies.
Sources
Shown
Participants report feeling less depressed, less anxious and kinder to themselves. But these are questionnaires, often in small studies of low to moderate quality.
Sources
Unknown
Reciting a mantra or the rosary at about six breaths a minute synchronises breathing and heart rhythm. This was measured in 23 healthy adults, in a lab. Whether it protects health is unknown.
Sources
Shown
Moderate effect, on how people feel and on body measures (heart rate, blood pressure). Before surgery, listening to music may reduce anxiety, but many studies have a risk of bias.
Sources
Not shown
No important clinical effect in general. It can still change what people feel, mainly pain and nausea. Even a placebo given openly ("this is a placebo") helped patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a promising lead, but the research is young.
Sources
Not shown
In a large trial of 1,802 heart-surgery patients, other people’s prayer changed nothing in complications. Those who knew they were prayed for had slightly more. The Cochrane review finds no clear effect.
Sources
Risk shown
In patients with curable cancer, choosing only alternative medicine was linked to a 2.5 times higher risk of death (5.7 times for breast cancer).
Sources
Meditation, compassion and music can help people feel a little less stressed. No study shows that a mantra, a statue or a ritual cures a disease. If the practice does you good, it belongs next to care, never in its place.
Sources checked on PubMed on 30 October 2026.
Findings concern the studied extracts, populations and conditions, not automatically a marketed product, tea or home recipe.
Observed findings : a small human trial (60 people with diabetes, 12 weeks) found improved vascular markers with a standardized extract; confirmation is needed. Source
Observed findings : a review reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in animals; human evidence remained limited. Source
Observed findings : a small human trial (59 people with metabolic syndrome) found improved vascular and lipid markers with a standardized extract; these were markers, not prevented diseases. Source
Observed findings : a review of 19 studies suggested a small reduction in general fatigue; human trials were often small and short and findings were inconsistent. Source
Observed findings : human trials of certain bark extracts found short-term relief of lower-back pain (EMA/HMPC assessment); this did not cover every willow preparation. Source
Observed findings : large human trials found no prevention of dementia; findings for its symptoms were inconsistent. Bleeding risk with some anticoagulants. Source
Observed findings : a leaf extract reduced oxidative-stress markers in vitro and in mice; the study did not test a human clinical benefit. Source
Observed findings : human trials, mostly of extracts, found small reductions in total and LDL cholesterol; concentrated extracts were also associated with liver injury. Source
Observed findings : sunflower phospholipids used in preparations (including liposomes); a Cochrane review examined trials on lecithin (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : a meta-analysis of 14 human trials observed a small rise in HDL (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : a meta-analysis of 20 human studies (1,076 people) observed lower LDL and triglycerides (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : milk-thistle extract (silymarin), studied in human trials on the liver (sources on the card). Source
Observed findings : nutrient-rich plant studied in 9 human trials on cardiometabolic markers (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : a review of laboratory studies described faster extraction of plant compounds under certain conditions (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : common vitamin and mineral intake; general multivitamin data are summarized in literature reviews (source on the card). Source
Observed findings : small human studies of extracts suggested reduced anxiety; evidence remained insufficient for a firm clinical conclusion. Source
Observed findings : a review of 10 human trials found fewer IBS symptoms with enteric-coated oil capsules, but more adverse effects; this did not establish a benefit from tea. Source
Observed findings : human trials of supplements reported reduced pregnancy-related nausea; study quality varied. Source
Observed findings : a meta-analysis of 47 human trials found modest reductions in anxiety, depression and pain; it did not show superiority over active treatments. Source
Observed findings : a small laboratory study (23 healthy adults) observed synchronization of breathing and cardiovascular rhythm; it did not measure disease recovery or the specific effect of the Medicine Buddha mantra. Source
Observed findings : two meta-analyses of 104 human trials found reduced perceived stress and some physiological markers; they did not specifically test Lapis tracks. Source
Observed findings : human studies were rated low to moderate quality; findings did not establish usefulness for fatigue or stress. Source
Observed findings : a meta-analysis of eight human trials found reduced joint pain with certain extracts; studies were too limited for a definitive conclusion. Source