Can A Weeklong Intensive Meditation Program Change Our Brain Structure & Metabolism, Create Drug-Like Compounds and Enhance Non-Touch Healing? - An Interview with Hemal Patel, PhD

Hemal H. Patel, PhDProfessor & Vice-Chair for Development and AdvancementDirector, UCSD Cardiac/Neuro Protection Laboratories VA Research Career Scientist, VA San Diego Healthcare SystemDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of California, San DiegoBiomedical Sciences Building, Mail Code 0629, 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0629 e-mail: hepatel@ucsd.edu“Neural and molecular changes during a mind-body reconceptualization, meditation, and open label placebo healing intervention.” Commun Biol 8, 1525 (2025).

(Interview transcript summary generated by Otter.AI edited my Kirk Hamilton PA)Study Overview… Dr. Hemal Patel discussed a study on the effects of a week-long meditation program, involving 20 participants who underwent fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), EEGs, brain wave and blood tests. The program included 30 hours of meditation, 20 hours of lectures, and 5 hours of “coherence healings.” Results showed increased glucose metabolism, neurite growth, and inflammation regulation. Blood tests revealed elevated BDNF and opioids, suggesting neuron growth and pain relief respectively. The study also noted changes in tryptophan metabolism, indicating potential effects on serotonin, melatonin and their metabolite levels which can have drug-like effects. Future studies will explore these findings in larger, more diverse populations, including those with chronic diseases and aging populations (70+).Post-Study Possible Action Items…Explore the impact of meditation on tryptophan metabolism by imaging tryptophan levels in the brain during fMRI.

Conduct a second fMRI study on a larger group of older adults (70+) and include location-specific controls.

Design experiments using model systems like plants, C. elegans, and Drosophila (two invertebrate model organisms widely used in biological research, especially in developmental genetics and neuroscience) to test the impact of “frequency and energy” on living systems without human intention.

Key Points

Study Overview and Methodology…Data was taken from a population of 20 subjects from the larger “Imagine” study conducted during a week-long event in San Diego in 2022. The study involved fMRI on 20 participants to measure neural and molecular changes during the lecture and meditation program. Dr. Patel describes the study’s design, including the control for variables and the limitations of not having vacationing controls.

Study Design and Participant Selection…The study was conducted as an observational pilot study with 20 participants, selected from a pool of 561 who provided biological samples. The study aimed to control for variables by collecting baseline samples before the event and measuring changes at the end of the week.

Functional MRI and EEG…Dr. Patel discusses the novelty of using functional MRI (fMRI) in meditation studies, which provides deeper insights into brain functionality and structure. The fMRI allows for the imaging of brain networks and connections, unlike EEG, which only provides surface-level electrical activity. The study’s location in San Diego, California enabled the use of the UCSD campus facilities for fMRI, which was a significant advantage. Dr. Patel mentions plans for a second fMRI study, focusing on the aging brain and recruiting location-specific controls.

Reconceptualization and Coherence Healing…Dr. Patel explains that reconceptualization involves lectures that challenge participants’ thinking and prior assumptions and beliefs. Coherence healing is a form of non-touch healing from a group (usually 6-8 individuals - “healers” sitting around an individual “healee” laying on the floor) during a meditation the occurs each of the last three days of the week-long intensive.

Blood Work and Brainwave Testing…The study included extensive blood work and brainwave testing. Patel highlights the importance of fMRI and blood data in understanding the brain and the body’s responses to meditation. The study found beneficial effects on blood sugar metabolism, with participants shifting from mitochondrial to enhanced glycolytic energy utilization. Dr. Patel discusses the increase in glucose metabolism and its implications for high-level mental processing during meditation.

Neurite Growth and BDNF…The study observed neurite growth in experienced meditators, with specific brain regions showing increased volume. Dr. Patel explains the use of PC 12 cells to test the growth-promoting factors in meditators’ plasma. The study found that post-event plasma accelerated neurite growth, suggesting pathways that support neuronal growth. Proteomic analysis confirmed the increase in pathway proteins linked to neuronal growth, supporting the biological findings.

Inflammation and Anti-Inflammation…The study showed simultaneous activation of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways, indicating a complex form of inflammatory regulation. Dr. Patel explains the role of inflammation in tissue repair and the dynamic balance needed for healing.

Opioid Production and Pain Reduction…The study found increased endorphin and dynorphin levels, suggesting a pain-relieving effect of meditation. Proteomic data supported the increase in pathways for endogenous opioid production, reinforcing the biological basis for pain mitigation.

Tryptophan Metabolism and Future Studies…The study used metabolomics to examine tryptophan metabolism, a key pathway to serotonin, melatonin and DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound. DMT’s effects on humans include vivid hallucinations and altered sensory perception). Dr. Patel discussed the potential for imaging tryptophan in the brain during future fMRI studies. Future studies will explore the consequences of different diets and metabolic states on meditation outcomes.

Clinical Relevance and Broader Implications…Dr. Patel emphasizes the importance of studying larger populations to understand the impact of meditation on health and disease. This study’s findings suggest that meditation can create a unique endogenous pharmacology, with potential applications in healthcare. Dr. Patel discusses the potential for comparing different forms of meditation and their effects on the body.

Quantum Physics and Placebo Effect…Kirk Hamilton asks about the relationship between the study’s findings and the concept of thoughts and emotions as energy and frequency. Dr. Patel acknowledges the complexity of this concept and mentions his thoughts on ongoing experiments to test it. Dr. Patel expresses cautious optimism about the potential for these experiments to provide new insights into the effects of meditation. Kirk Hamilton closes the interview by questioning if there really is a true placebo because thoughts and emotions are energy and frequency and they have the potential to create matter and “real life"experiences.

Staying Healthy Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Highlights…

AUTISM - CDC Retracts 30-Year Falsehood “Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism” Weeks After the McCullough Foundation’s Landmark Autism Report. Dr. Peter McCullough, John Leake, and Nic Hulscher Hold Press Conference on the Historic Reversal. Nicolas Hulscher, MPH, Focal Points (Courageous Discourse) Nov 20, 2025.1) Autism and Vaccines, CDC, Nov. 19, 2025. 2) McCullough Foundation Report: Determinants of Autism Spectrum Disorder.COVID VACCINATION - CANCER - Study of 8 Million Confirms Deadly Cancers Surging Among Covid-Vaxxed, William Makis, MD, Covid Intel, Nov 26, 2025.1) 1-year risks of cancers associated with COVID-19 vaccination: a large population-based cohort study in South Korea. “…Data from 8,407,849 individuals between 2021 and 2023 were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance database…The HRs of thyroid (HR, 1.351; 95% CI, 1.206–1.514), gastric (HR, 1.335; 95% CI, 1.130–1.576), colorectal (HR, 1.283; 95% CI, 1.122–1.468), lung (HR, 1.533; 95% CI, 1.254–1.874), breast (HR, 1.197; 95% CI, 1.069–1.340), and prostate (HR, 1.687; 95% CI, 1.348–2.111) cancers significantly increased at 1 year post-vaccination…cDNA vaccines were associated with the increased risks of thyroid, gastric, color