Editing Mantra Chanting as an intervention for stress management (section)

= '''Introduction''' =
The word Mantra refers to a combination of two Sanskrit roots: ''‘Man-’'' which refers to the mind and ''‘-tra’'' which refers to an instrument (Lolla, 2018). Thus, a mantra is referred to as an instrument of the mind, a powerful combination of verbal and auditory stimuli that can be employed to enhance and engage higher cognitive faculties such as improved focus and better thought regulation. Mantra chanting has been an integral part of the ancient Indian traditions and is currently researched with a renewed inquisitiveness to assess its potential implications on psychological and physiological well-being in individuals. According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey in United States, 1.6% of the population practiced mantra meditation over the 12-month period suggesting 3.6 million practicing adults (Burke et al., 2017). The mechanism of mantra chanting works through the vibration produced through articulation. According to Yogi Bhajan who introduced Kundalini Yoga in the West, 84 meridian points are situated on the hard palate of the roof of the mouth, 32 pairs located alongside the inside of the teeth, and 20 located in a U shape on the centre of the palate. During the articulation of the mantra, the movement of the tongue causes the stimulation of these meridian points, which in turn stimulates the hypothalamus (Staples, 2018).