Adding yoga to standard medical treatment can significantly accelerate recovery from opioid withdrawal, according to a small study conducted in India. Researchers found that combining yoga with routine medication nearly halved recovery time compared to drug therapy alone.
How Yoga Supports the Body During Withdrawal
As reported by Reuters, during opioid withdrawal, the body’s stress system remains overactive while its calming system stays suppressed, explained study lead author Dr. Hemant Bhargav from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), India. As a result, patients commonly experience symptoms such as diarrhea, insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, dilated pupils, runny nose, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
However, through mindfulness, controlled breathing, and relaxation techniques, yoga helps the body move out of a constant stress response and into a state that promotes healing. “Standard medications do not fully address this imbalance,” Dr. Bhargav noted.
Study Design and Key Findings
In the study, 59 men experiencing mild to moderate opioid withdrawal received buprenorphine, the standard treatment. In addition, half of the participants underwent 10 yoga sessions of 45 minutes each over a 14-day period. These sessions included breathing exercises, physical postures, and guided relaxation.
As a result, participants who practised yoga recovered in an average of five days, compared to nine days for those who received buprenorphine alone. The researchers reported these findings in JAMA Psychiatry.
Benefits Beyond Faster Recovery
Beyond shortening recovery time, yoga significantly reduced anxiety levels—a major trigger for cravings and relapse. Moreover, participants in the yoga group reported better sleep quality, reduced pain, and improved heart rate regulation.
Need for Broader Research
The researchers acknowledged that the study included only male participants, reflecting the patient population at the treatment centre during the study period. Nevertheless, Dr. Bhargav emphasised the need to include women in future studies, as hormonal influences may affect withdrawal symptoms, pain perception, and response to yoga. He also added that upcoming research will explore whether yoga’s benefits extend beyond the withdrawal phase, particularly in lowering relapse risk.