A limited Indian study showed that practicing “yoga” in conjunction with traditional medical treatment contributes to accelerating the recovery process from opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Medical Treatment and “Yoga”
Researchers found that combining basic drug therapy using drugs containing the active ingredient “buprenorphine” with the practice of “yoga” helped individuals recover from opioid withdrawal symptoms at an almost twice as fast rate compared to drug therapy alone, according to “Reuters.”
Dr. Hemant Bhargav, the study leader from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India, explained that during opioid withdrawal, the body’s stress response system remains in a state of hyperactivity, while the calming response system experiences a state of dormancy.
Patients may suffer from multiple health symptoms such as diarrhea, insomnia, pain, anxiety, and depression, in addition to dilated pupils, runny nose, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
Bhargav confirmed that “yoga,” with its mental focus, slow breathing, and relaxation techniques, “helps the body transition from a state of constant stress to a state that supports healing, an aspect that traditional medicines do not fully address.”
Breathing Techniques
All participants in the study, numbering 59 men, took the drug “buprenorphine.” They suffered from mild to moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Half of them also practiced 10 yoga sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, over 14 days, which included breathing techniques, specific postures, and special relaxation instructions.
Researchers in the journal “JAMA Psychiatry” indicated that participants in the “yoga” group took an average of 5 days to recover, compared to nine days in the “buprenorphine” only group.
“Yoga” contributed to reducing anxiety levels, which are often a major cause of relapse during the withdrawal period. Researchers also found that it improved sleep quality, relieved pain, and improved heart rate.
Bhargav explained that the study sample, which was limited to males, included “a number of patients in our treatment center during the study period.”
He added: “Including females may reveal important differences… Women may experience withdrawal differently due to the hormonal effects on involuntary functions and pain perception, and may respond differently to yoga practices.” He indicated that similar studies including women are being planned.
He concluded: “We also want to study whether the benefits of yoga persist after the withdrawal period, particularly in reducing the chances of relapse.”
