Effects of yogic breath regulation: A narrative review of scientific evidence
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine February 2, 2018 Apar Avinash Saoji, B.r. Raghavendra, N. K. Manjunath 185 citations
A comprehensive overview of scientific literature on yogic breathing (pranayama) finds that these techniques produce beneficial effects on neurocognitive, psychophysiological, respiratory, biochemical, and metabolic functions in healthy individuals and are useful in managing various clinical conditions. The review, which included experimental papers, case studies, and case series from 1400 references, concludes that yogic breathing is safe when practiced under the guidance of a trained teacher. The authors call for further large-scale studies with rigorous designs to understand the underlying mechanisms.