11/01/2026
Breaking the cycle of opioid addiction
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry on January 7, 2026, found that standard medical treatment augmented with yoga can reduce the recovery time for opioid withdrawal from nine to five days, a decrease of nearly half. Conducted at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, this research represents one of the first controlled clinical trials to rigorously test yoga as an adjunct therapy for opioid use disorder (OUD).
Yoga's therapeutic benefits in opioid withdrawal lie in its ability to regulate breathing, calm the nervous system, and mitigate the body's stress response. By doing so, it creates a conducive environment for recovery, reducing anxiety, pain, and sleep disturbances. This approach doesn't replace medical treatment but complements it, highlighting the importance of addressing both physiological and psychological aspects of addiction. The study underscores the interconnectedness of biology, psychology, and stress regulation, offering a holistic perspective on recovery.
JAMA Psychiatry National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Harvard Medical School
