Various religious and spiritual traditions from the East have advocated combining breath and a mantra to induce a deep meditative state leading to spiritual and emotional healing. Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Harvard Mind-Body Medical Institute has studied these claims using Western scientific methods. Dr. Benson's research has demonstrated the body moves into what he calls the "relaxation response" when such methods are used.
The Relaxation Response
To quote Dr. Benson, "The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional response to stress... and the opposite of the fight or flight response."
The fight or flight response is a reaction to stress which elevates blood pressure, disrupts digestion, and releases hormones which can be destructive for the body on a long-term basis. Fight or flight was never intended by nature to be a long-term state of being. It was meant to marshal all your physical forces to run or fight with all your might to preserve your life.