Yoga is effective in prevention as well as management of stress and stress-induced disorders. A systematic review based on eight studies observed that though they reported positive results due to methodological inadequacies it is not possible to say that yoga is effective in treating anxiety or anxiety disorders in general. However, there are encouraging results, particularly with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A systematic review has demonstrated beneficial effects of yoga interventions on depressive disorders. A study on patients who were taking antidepressant medications but who were only in partial remission showed significant reductions in depression, anger, anxiety, and neurotic symptoms. The study supports the potential of yoga as a complementary treatment of depression.
It has been shown that yoga decreases anxiety, stress, and levels of salivary cortisol(4,5) as well as plasma renin levels, and 24-h urine norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. These may be the possible mechanisms for effects of yoga on stress and stress-related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.
In 2008, researchers at the University of Utah showed that among control subjects and yoga practitioners, by functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), that yoga practitioner had the higher pain tolerance and lower pain-related brain activity during the MRI. The study shows the importance of yoga in regulating pain responses and associated stress.
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