re·lax·a·tion re·sponse

an integrated hypothalamic reaction in which a human being or animal experiences safety and a sense of nurturing; resulting in decreased sympathetic nervous system activity that, physiologically and psychologically, is almost a mirror image of fight or flight response; it can be self-induced through the use of techniques associated with transcendental meditation, yoga, and biofeedback.
See also: fight or flight response.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

relaxation response

A term coined in 1975 by Dr Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School for the use of “good breathing techniques”, active muscle relaxation and meditation as a means of lowering blood pressure and reducing internal and external stress.

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References in periodicals archive

The relaxation response induced by the PDE-5 inhibitor sildenafil at 1 [micro]M dose was considerably reduced in the diabetic rats when compared with the control rats (Figure 4d).

Effect of Extracts of the Aerial Parts and Roots from Four Ferulago Species on Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes/Streptozotosin ile Olusturulan Diyabetik Sicanlarda Dort Ferulago Turunun Toprak Ustu ve Kok Ekstrelerinin Erektil Disfonksiyon Uzerine Etkisi

But brain scans of the relaxation response group showed greater activity in the parts of the brain devoted to deliberate control and supplementary motor activity.

MGH Study: Two Meditation-Based Stress Treatments Effective in Different Ways: Mindfulness meditation and relaxation response differ in how they work in the brain

There was no significant difference between the [E.sub.max] of relaxation response to SNP of aortic rings from the Sham-V, RAC-V, RAC-E5, RAC-E10, RAC-E20, and RAC-E30 groups (figure 1C).

Antihypertensive effects of hydroalcoholic extract of crataegus azarolus subspecies aronia fruit in rats with renovascular hypertension: an experimental mechanistic study

The long and deep exhalations of the second exercise help the body calm down to "rest and digest"--the same Relaxation Response that Dr.

My Response to the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Call for Kosher Therapeutic Meditation

There were no differences in relaxation responses between 3- and 9-week-old rats in the presence or absence of endothelium.

Role of adenylyl cyclase in reduced [beta]-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation during maturation

The SFTE-rich diet significantly improved the relaxation response of the aortas.

Silver fir (Abies alba) trunk extract protects guinea pig arteries from impaired functional responses and morphology due to an atherogenic diet

The body's natural relaxation response is a powerful antidote to stress.

Meditation: a stress reliever

Pharmaceutical companies create drugs that produce the relaxation response in the form of anxiolytics, antihypertensives and other medications that work specifically to produce parasympathetic stimulating effects.

Make time for nothing

What we need to do is to activate a relaxation response after a fight or flight response and lower our stress levels regularly.

Simple steps to avoid dying of heart disease

M learned to use diaphragm breathing and breathing awareness to facilitate the relaxation response. Her heart rate decreased from the mid to high 90s to the low 80s/high 70s.

Biofeedback: a way to regain some control over pain: integrating biofeedback into a patient's treatment plan can ease pain and improve quality of life

Meditation is also called "the relaxation response" as it elicits the opposite bodily reaction from the "fight-or-flight" response.

Get a handle on stress

His studies found out that, in fact, the body's relaxation response can be triggered by a realistic illusion of a natural view.

A room with a view