Yoga as medicine: What PCPs need to know

September is designated by HHS as National Yoga Awareness Month with the intention of educating people on the benefits of yoga to inspire a healthier lifestyle, according to the Yoga Health Foundation.

Increasingly, clinical research has provided evidence showing the effect of yoga in reducing pain and improving depression, among other benefits.

To mark National Yoga Awareness Month, Healio Internal Medicine compiled a list of the most popular news articles from recent advancements in yoga research.

NIH review: Yoga, tai chi, acupuncture effective in pain management

Complementary health treatments such as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, massage therapy and relaxation techniques were found to be effective in managing common pain conditions, according to researchers from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Read more.

Yoga effectively prevents hypertension

In patients with prehypertension, one hour of hatha yoga a day reduced BP levels, according to study findings presented at the 68th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India. Read more.

Yoga benefits men undergoing prostate cancer treatment

When men receiving prostate cancer treatment attended twice-weekly, structured yoga classes, they experienced less fatigue and better sexual and urinary function compared with those who did not, according to recent findings. Read more.

Yoga effective for treatment-resistant, chronic depression

Two studies presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention indicated feasibility and efficacy of a yoga intervention for treatment-resistant and chronic depression. Read more.

Yoga may be linked to more pain, injury than previously thought

Yoga caused musculoskeletal pain and exacerbated existing physical injuries, according to research recently published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Read more.

Yoga improves quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis

SAN DIEGO — A 12-week hatha yoga intervention reduced disease activity and improved quality of life and mental health in patients with ulcerative colitis, according to randomized controlled trial results presented at Digestive Disease Week. Read more.

Yoga improves depression, anxiety in depression

Data from two studies presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention showed significant benefits of yoga for depression and anxious depression. Read more.

Chair yoga linked with reduced pain, pain interference in patients with OA

Older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis pain who participated in an 8-week chair yoga program experienced reduced pain, pain interference and fatigue, as well as improved gait speed, according to results. Read more.

Yoga improves depression, anxiety in treatment-resistant major depression

Individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder who participated in Sudarshan Kriya yoga exhibited significant improvement in depression and anxiety scores, compared with peers who did not participate in yoga. Read more.

Yoga reduces depression severity in patients with hard-to-treat mild to moderate depression

SAN DIEGO — Outcomes of a randomized, controlled pilot study indicated that hatha yoga practice reduced depression severity in patients with mild-to-moderate depression, according to research presented here at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Read more.

Yoga use prevalence increases significantly in recent years

The prevalence of yoga use in the United States has increased significantly compared with previous decades, according to data published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Read more.