Yoga for Opioid Withdrawal and Autonomic Regulation

Key Points Question Can yoga as adjuvant therapy accelerate opioid withdrawal recovery and improve autonomic regulation in patients with opioid use disorder? Findings In this randomized clinical trial of 59 male participants with opioid use disorder, those receiving yoga alongside standard buprenorphine treatment achieved withdrawal stabilization 4.4 times faster than controls (median, 5 vs 9 days) and showed significant improvements in heart rate variability, anxiety, sleep, and pain measures. Meaning In this trial, yoga significantly enhanced opioid withdrawal recovery through measurable autonomic and clinical improvements, supporting its integration into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention.