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Yoga Speeds Opioid Withdrawal Recovery, Reduces Anxiety & Pain: Study

A clinical trial led by NIMHANS and Harvard researchers found that yoga significantly accelerates recovery from opioid withdrawal when used alongside standard medication. Participants receiving yoga therapy achieved withdrawal stabilisation 4.4 times faster than the control group and showed marked improvements in anxiety, sleep, and pain. The study highlights yoga's role in restoring autonomic nervous system balance, addressing a key gap in standard opioid use disorder treatment. Researchers advocate for integrating yoga into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed, cost-effective intervention.

Key Points: Yoga Accelerates Opioid Withdrawal Recovery, Improves Symptoms

  • Speeds withdrawal stabilisation 4.4x
  • Reduces anxiety and improves sleep
  • Alleviates pain and autonomic dysregulation
  • Targets parasympathetic nervous system restoration
2 min read

Yoga aids speedy opioid withdrawal recovery, improves anxiety, sleep: Study

New study finds yoga with standard treatment speeds opioid withdrawal recovery 4.4x, improves anxiety, sleep, pain, and heart rate variability.

"Yoga significantly enhanced opioid withdrawal recovery through measurable autonomic and clinical improvements - Suddala Goutham"

New Delhi, Jan 10

Yoga can aid in the speedy recovery of people with opioid withdrawal, as well as improve anxiety, sleep, and pain in them, according to a study.

Opioid withdrawal involves physical symptoms like diarrhoea, insomnia, fever, pain, anxiety, and depression, and autonomic signs such as pupil dilation, runny nose, goosebumps, anorexia, yawning, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These symptoms result from sympathetic nervous system overactivity due to dysregulated noradrenergic outflow.

The study led by researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, and Harvard Medical School, US, calls for integrating yoga into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention. They noted that yoga will help address core regulatory processes beyond symptom management.

"In this trial, yoga significantly enhanced opioid withdrawal recovery through measurable autonomic and clinical improvements, supporting its integration into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention," said Suddala Goutham, from the Department of Integrative Medicine at NIMHANS.

Opioid use disorder (OUD), characterised by recurrent opioid use, leading to significant physical, psychological, and social problems, is a significant global public health challenge.

In 2022, an estimated 60 million people worldwide used opioids nonmedically, yet only 1 in 11 individuals with drug use disorders received treatment. In India, a 2019 national survey indicated a 2.1 per cent prevalence of opioid use.

Opioid withdrawal involves sympathetic hyperactivity and reduced parasympathetic tone, which standard pharmacological treatments may not adequately address, contributing to relapse vulnerability.

To evaluate yoga as an adjuvant therapy to accelerate opioid withdrawal recovery, the team conducted a randomised clinical trial of 59 male participants (30 yoga and 29 control participants) with opioid use disorder.

The participants who received yoga alongside standard buprenorphine treatment achieved withdrawal stabilisation 4.4 times faster than controls. They also showed significant improvements in heart rate variability, anxiety, sleep, and pain measures.

"In this randomised clinical trial, adjuvant yoga therapy significantly accelerated opioid withdrawal recovery while addressing autonomic dysregulation. The concurrent physiological, psychological, and symptomatic improvements suggest that yoga may restore core regulatory processes beyond symptom management," said the team in the paper, published in the JAMA Psychiatry.

"By targeting parasympathetic restoration, yoga may fill a critical therapeutic gap in standard OUD care, supporting integration into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention with potential economic benefits," they added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
A 2.1% prevalence of opioid use in India is a serious concern that doesn't get enough attention. This study is a step in the right direction. Yoga as an adjuvant therapy makes perfect sense—it's cost-effective, accessible, and addresses the root cause (autonomic dysregulation) rather than just symptoms.
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David E
As someone who works in public health, the global treatment gap is staggering—only 1 in 11 get help. The economic benefits mentioned are crucial. If yoga can speed up recovery 4.4 times, it could significantly reduce the burden on healthcare systems, especially in developing countries.
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Aman W
While the results are promising, the study only had 59 male participants. We need larger, more diverse trials including women before we can call it a definitive solution. Still, it's a fantastic foundation for future research. Jai Hind!
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Shreya B
My cousin struggled with addiction. The anxiety and insomnia were the worst parts for him. To think that something as simple and natural as yoga can help with that... it gives me hope. The government should promote such integrative medicine in de-addiction centers across all states.
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Vikram M
Proud to see Indian institutions like NIMHANS leading such impactful research with Harvard. This is real soft power. Yoga isn't just about physical postures; it's about regulating the nervous system. This study proves that. Hope it gets implemented widely.

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