The issue is perhaps that science (and I'm a fan of science, don't get me wrong), does not yet have the tools or understanding of human biology, psychology etc. to develop tests that could accurately measure the plethora of factors to be taken account of when using such techniques as meditation and brainwave entrainment, especially over long terms such as years or decades.
How could science run true double-blind tests on sample people and take account of all the other factors in those people's lives over such a long period of time, including genetic make up, environmental and societal issues, previous exposure to... well... anything, prior to the research etc. etc.
In such a long term practice such as meditation, brainwave entrainment, complementary health etc. it is generally only possible to rely on observation of cases from the past. e.g. if people keep on trying to do this thing and it seems they're all dying young, it's probably not a good thing to do. Conversely, if they're all doing this thing and seeming to live to a ripe old age, then there's a good change that something about it is a factor in that.
I would love for science to be able to provide some means of researching and measuring all the factors, rather than just brainwave activity from EEG's etc. but even if they had the tools to measure them, who is going to have enough understanding of how each measurement correlates with the other measurements and what the resultant figures might actually mean. It's all fine measuring things in isolation and we can get some insight into some things, but I can't see that it's feasibly possible to perform full factor measuring and interpretation to conclusively scientifically prove any of it.
At the end of the day, everyone has to have faith of some sort. Even science. Without faith, people (scientists included) wouldn't take that step into the unknown to see what happens and thus discover things new.
Research and understanding is great. Putting it into practice and finding out for yourself is even greater.
Hugs
Giles
