A question critical to this 'conversation' is raised:
"Practicing meditation changes our brain chemistry as does tea? "
The answer is a resounding YES, and it's being actively investigated by several major research centers around the world.
In the US, one lead investigator/center director posited that meditation 're-regulated' receptor activity across many crucial centers of activity associated with emotion, reasoning, impulsivity and social behaviors. He tested this hypothesis using positron emission tomography and MRI-scanning using receptor specific dyes. He tested novices and masters at a Lamasery, in a cooperative research project, too.
He was able to correlate EEGs, brain-wave patterns and center chemical activity, comparing controls to various groups of patients with stress- and anxiety disorders, subdivided into those taking medication and those using alternative treatment approaches including meditation and spiritual activities (prayer, ritual) - circa 2000.
Previously, he had spent a decade amassing thousands of scans and patient records to build a library of 'normal' and 'abnormal' patterns.
Even novice priests who had practiced serious meditation for just a few years had significantly altered patterns observed on EEG PET and MRI, when compared to non-practitioners and to patients suffering from chronic and acute stress effects.
Another really good question was raised regarding the chicken and egg situation of hormone stimulation and maternal bonding (early social bonding/parental model socialization).
Mothers release oxytocin during breastfeeding. It reinforces bonding between parent and offspring, but more importantly, it promotes neural development and maturation of brain cells. So its first hormone, then social interaction.
Theanine is especially important with respect to its promotion of GABA synthesis and release in brains prone to irregular stress tolerance response. In emotionally stressed infants and abused children, the stress response is changed from that of normal activity - fewer stress hormone receptors are made. It's thought that this damage to receptor gene expression results in increased sensitivity to ACTH and epinephrine. Researchers also believe that this epigenetic modulation can occur later in life as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7901337.stm?
Other published research has shown that lower levels of GABA synthesis and release also play a role in abnormal stress response and stress receptor gene regulation.
Brain wave 'chemistry' can be affected by music, too. Certain types of music are almost as potent at inducing calm but relaxing brain state as is elicited by meditation and prayer.
Chant, tribal rhythms, and hymns (sung and heard), all have been shown to moduate brain waves, reduce stress and induce oxytocin and dopamine release deep in the animal emotion centers of the brain.
