Staff Sgt. Todd Knauber served nine months as a U.S. Army turret gunner in the far west region of Afghanistan before he was injured.
He used to believe it would sound ridiculous to recommend something like Transcendental Meditation classes to fellow combat veterans, but the results have changed his views.
Effortless calm, the greatest weapon of all
Knauber was offered an opportunity to take part in the Transcendental Meditation program as part of his treatment at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, the official home page of the United States Army reports. 
Transcendental Meditation was something he had never heard of, but it offered him the possibility of dealing with the medications, the nightmares, and the physical and emotional pain.
Veteran of WWII Jerry Yellin has launched a nation-wide program for offering Transcendental Meditation to soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress.
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Knauber states, “It is our greatest weapon in helping to combat the scars of conflict. This program provides [veterans] the grounds to reestablish hope, and begin to truly heal.”
From medicating to meditating
Since he began meditating, there has been a change in his life. He meditates twice a day for 20 minutes and over four months; he has discontinued two medications, Prazosin and Trazadone, and has reduced his Zoloft by half.
“I typically have a regimen of several pain medications to manage my physical injuries. Rather than taking a handful of pills seven days a week, I can manage my pain regularly with a few tablets, two to three times a week.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
“Transcendental meditation: A path to healing”,
U.S.Military home page
WATCH VIDEO: Veteran of Iraq war overcomes PTSD with meditation
