Exploring the pharmacological and pharmacotherapeutic effects of yoga

Yoga is a spiritual technique incorporating a wide variety of practices, whose goal is developing a state of mental and physical health, well-being, inner harmony and ultimately, achieving a state of oneness with the universe. Yoga can modify disease state(s) and pave the way for a healthy life. Many systemic disorders are associated with/ due to stress. Regular yoga practice may improve the adaptive autonomic response(s) to stress. Yoga can be used as supportive or complementary therapy in conjunction with medical therapy for the treatment of any systemic disorder. Recent studies have showed the beneficial effects of yoga on the management/ treatment of diabetes, blood pressure, arthrosclerosis etc. The main objective of this review is to summarize the pharmacological aspects, medical and health benefits of yoga.