--- title: Yoga May Speed Recovery From Opioid Withdrawal description: Yoga may speed up recovery time in patients with mild to moderate opioid withdrawal by improving autonomic regulation, anxiety, sleep, and pain, a study in JAMA Psychiatry has found. image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yoga_man_Stock-1292207683.jpg --- 1/9/26 3:10 PM # Yoga May Speed Recovery From Opioid Withdrawal ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal) ![yoga_man_Stock-1292207683](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yoga_man_Stock-1292207683.jpg?width=220&height=146&name=yoga_man_Stock-1292207683.jpg)Yoga may speed up recovery time in patients with mild to moderate opioid withdrawal by improving autonomic regulation, anxiety, sleep, and pain, a [study](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2843424) in *JAMA Psychiatry* has found.   **Why It’s Relevant** Prior research has found that craving trajectories in the first 14 days of treatment are associated with long-term substance use outcomes. “By shortening the withdrawal period when relapse risk and dropout rates are highest, yoga may influence these trajectories, potentially improving long-term retention and outcomes,” the study investigators wrote.   **By the Numbers** - The researchers analyzed data from 59 men ages 18 to 50 years with opioid use disorder (OUD) who were experiencing mild to moderate withdrawal.  - Half of the men received 10 supervised sessions of yoga over 14 days alongside buprenorphine treatment; the remainder received buprenorphine treatment only. - Patients in the yoga group recovered from their withdrawal (Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale scores dropping to and staying below four) in **an average of five days**, compared with nine days for the control group.  - Compared with the control group, patients in the yoga group also had greater improvements in **heart-rate variability** (a sign of improved autonomic nervous system control), anxiety symptoms, pain perception, and time needed to fall asleep.  **The Other Side** The research was conducted at only one center, and the intervention duration was short. In addition, all study participants were men, which limits generalizability.   **Takeaway Message** “By targeting parasympathetic restoration, yoga may fill a critical therapeutic gap in standard OUD care, supporting integration into withdrawal protocols as a neurobiologically informed intervention with potential economic benefits,” the researchers wrote.   **Related Information** “[Mind-Body Interventions for Anxiety Disorders: A Review of the Evidence Base for Mental Health Practitioners](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.focus.20200042)”   **Source** Suddala Goutham, et. al. Yoga for opioid withdrawal and autonomic regulation: a randomized clinical trial. *JAMA Psychiatry*. Published January 7, 2026. doi: [10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.3863](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2843424)   (Image: Getty Images/iStock/Margaryta Basarab)   [opioids](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioids), [opioid use disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-use-disorder), [opioid withdrawal](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-withdrawal), [buprenorphine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/buprenorphine), [yoga](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/yoga) ## Related Posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/hospital_iStock-1046447804-Jun-16-2026-05-20-39-8733-PM.jpg?height=200&name=hospital_iStock-1046447804-Jun-16-2026-05-20-39-8733-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/short-acting-opioids-may-have-use-in-opioid-withdrawal-care) ## [Short-Acting Opioids May Have Use in Opioid Withdrawal Care](https://alert.psychnews.org/short-acting-opioids-may-have-use-in-opioid-withdrawal-care) 6/16/26 1:36 PM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/short-acting-opioids-may-have-use-in-opioid-withdrawal-care) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/syringe_iStock-507479146-Jun-24-2025-10-34-01-3635-PM.jpg?height=200&name=syringe_iStock-507479146-Jun-24-2025-10-34-01-3635-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/10/extended-release-naltrexone-as.html) ## [Extended-Release Naltrexone as Effective, Safe as Buprenorphine-Naloxone, Study Finds](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/10/extended-release-naltrexone-as.html) 10/24/17 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/10/extended-release-naltrexone-as.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/synapse_2821827-Jun-24-2025-10-33-05-0018-PM.jpg?height=200&name=synapse_2821827-Jun-24-2025-10-33-05-0018-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/addiction-side-rises-as-important.html) ## [Addiction's 'Dark Side' Rises as Important Treatment Target](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/addiction-side-rises-as-important.html) 6/13/13 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/06/addiction-side-rises-as-important.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2026-01-09T20:10:25.811Z", "datePublished" : "2026-01-09T20:10:25.000Z", "headline" : "Yoga May Speed Recovery From Opioid Withdrawal", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yoga_man_Stock-1292207683.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/yoga-may-speed-recovery-from-opioid-withdrawal", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```