Alternative treatment promoted for soldiers suffering from PTSD

Alternative treatment promoted for soldiers suffering from PTSD
By Charley Keyes, CNN Senior National Security Producer
June 8, 2011 -- Updated 2106 GMT (0506 HKT)

Donna Karan and David Lynch attend a December function for Lynch's foundation, which aims to relieve PTSD in veterans.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Transcendental meditation can help tackle PTSD, a medical researcher says
Dr. Norman Rosenthal says he has facts, figures and testimonials to back him up
Star-studded events this week are kicking off a campaign to teach veterans how to meditate

Washington (CNN) -- Celebrities and a medical researcher want to convince the Defense Department this week that meditation could help the increasing number of military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress.

Star-studded events in New York and Washington are bringing together people experienced in transcendental meditation with soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Designer Donna Karan hosted a reception in Manhattan on Tuesday evening, and movie director David Lynch ("Blue Velvet," "Mulholland Drive") and CNN anchor and correspondent Candy Crowley will headline a Washington event Wednesday to kick off a campaign the sponsors hope will teach 10,000 veterans how to meditate.

A Georgetown Medical School clinical professor, Dr. Norman Rosenthal, said he has the facts, figures and testimonials to show that meditation can be a low-cost, low-risk alternative to strong narcotics often prescribed by government doctors.

The Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs "are big institutions," Rosenthal said in a telephone interview. "Our hope is someone will raise an eyebrow and say, "Well, well."
He includes case studies in his new book, "Transcendence-healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation."
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Alternative treatment promoted for soldiers suffering from PTSD