A randomized controlled study examined the effect of Sudarshan Kriya, a structured breathing practice, on veterans with PTSD. The intervention lasted one week, with follow-up assessments. Veterans who completed the breathing program showed statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptom scores and anxiety levels.
The study is part of a growing body of evidence that breath-based interventions can affect the autonomic nervous system directly. Controlled breathing appears to downregulate the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) response and strengthen parasympathetic activity. For trauma survivors, whose nervous systems are often stuck in a hypervigilant state, this shift is particularly relevant.
The practical implication is that breath practices may offer an accessible entry point for populations that struggle with talk therapy or medication side effects. The effects were observed after a relatively short intervention, suggesting the nervous system can respond quickly to targeted breathing techniques.
Source: Yoga Research: Mental Health & Trauma on ashtanga.tech. Original research.