Yoga Beneficial for Menstrual Disorders

Yoga practice is found to be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of common menstrual disorders, according to a systematic review of the published literature. The impact of a range of yoga interventions on premenstrual women who experience distress associated with physical and psychological symptoms is described in an article published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Jennifer Oates, PhD, King's College London, U.K., assessed the evidence from 15 published studies on the effects of yoga practice on problems such as amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Enhanced mood, reduced pain, increased wellbeing, and a heightened relaxation response were among the improved outcomes reported by women who participated in a yoga intervention, as reported in the article entitled "The Effect of Yoga on Menstrual Disorders: A Systematic Review."

‘Yoga intervention that includes a combination of Asana, Pranayama, and other yogic relaxation or meditation techniques is an alternative means of reducing symptoms of menstrual distress in premenstrual women.’

"While the heterogeneity of the studies presented the authors with limitations, patients can take solace that the studies uniformly found value regardless of the intensity and type of yoga intervention," comments The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Editor-in-Chief John Weeks, johnweeks-integrator.com, Seattle, WA.

Source: Eurekalert