Complementary therapies in medicine
June 1, 2013
Surbhi Khanna, Jeffrey M Greeson
250 citations
Yoga and mindfulness show promise as complementary therapies for addiction, supported by a growing number of clinical trials and laboratory studies on smoking, alcohol dependence, and illicit substance use. These practices, rooted in ancient Buddhist philosophy and traditional yoga, may target psychological, neural, physiological, and behavioral processes involved in addiction and relapse. However, few studies have examined yoga specifically, and more research is needed to determine which interventions work best for different addictions and patient types. A conceptual model is proposed to guide future studies on outcomes and mechanisms.
Complementary therapies in medicine
March 1, 2020
Crystal L Park, Lucy Finkelstein-Fox, Erik J Groessl et al.
54 citations
In regular yoga practitioners, a single yoga session increased positive emotions (engagement, tranquility, revitalization) and decreased exhaustion. All measured psychological resources—mindfulness, body consciousness, self-transcendence, social connectedness, and spiritual peace—also increased and closely tracked the improved emotions. Different types of yoga sessions were associated with changes in different psychological resources. The findings suggest yoga influences multiple psychological mechanisms that enhance emotional well-being, and that specific yoga components may be optimized to target particular mechanisms like mindfulness or spirituality.
Complementary therapies in medicine
December 1, 2024
Siliana Maria Duarte Miranda, Sara de Pinho Cunha Paiva, Luiz Fernando Ferreira Pereira et al.
3 citations
An online mindfulness-based intervention (eMBI) over eight weeks helped reduce shortness of breath in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In a controlled trial, 48.9% of those who completed the eMBI reported less dyspnea on the mMRC scale, compared with 15.4% in the control group. The program did not significantly improve cough-related quality of life, overall quality of life, depression, anxiety, or stress. No moderate or severe side effects occurred. The approach appears safe and potentially useful for managing breathlessness in ILD.
Complementary therapies in medicine
November 1, 2025
Yongyao Wu, Qiaojing Xia, Yiyi Gao et al.
2 citations
A 12-week mindfulness meditation program lowered blood pressure and improved quality of life in patients with intradialytic hypertension during haemodialysis. In a randomized trial of 69 patients, those who practiced meditation had significantly lower systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and a lower pulse rate than those receiving standard care. Quality-of-life measures, including physical function, pain, energy, and emotional well-being, improved, but social function did not. Blood levels of homocysteine also decreased. Adverse reactions occurred in 11.76% of the meditation group versus 45.71% of the control group. Mindfulness meditation appears to be a safe, effective non-pharmacological option for managing intradialytic hypertension.
Complementary therapies in medicine
June 1, 2026
Moirangthem Joychand Singh, Sunil Singh Yadav, Sangeeth Somanadhapai et al.
Meditation-based interventions for people with epilepsy show promise for improving depression, anxiety, concentration, and quality of life. Neurophysiological changes include modulation of gamma power, beta burst duration, and interictal epileptiform discharges, suggesting a potential stabilizing effect on neural networks. However, evidence for reducing seizure frequency is inconsistent and generally not statistically significant. The review included five studies: two randomized controlled trials, two open-label studies, and one case report. Meditation appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy for psychological well-being and possibly cortical excitability, but well-powered randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are needed to confirm effects on seizure control.