7. How Does Meditation Affect Your Hormones? (b)

Can meditation change your body’s chemistry? Two studies measured hormone levels before and after one hour of Acem Meditation—and compared them to non-meditators resting for the same amount of time.

The results? Meditators had higher baseline levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep, but levels actually decreased slightly during meditation.

They also had more serotonin, a key brain chemical involved in mood, memory, and learning. However, serotonin levels dropped slightly in both groups after the session. Interestingly, endorphin levels and pain tolerance were not affected by meditation.

These findings suggest that regular meditation may influence your overall hormonal balance—even if short-term changes are subtle.

Research references Solberg EE, Holen A, Ekeberg O, Osterud B, Halvorsen R, Sandvik L. The effects of long meditation on plasma melatonin and blood serotonin. Med Sci Monit. 2004;10(3):CR96-101. Øktedalen O, Solberg, EE., Haugen, AH., Opstad, PK. The influence of physical and mental training on beta-endorphin level and pain perception after intensive physical exercise. Stress and Health. 2001;17:121-7.