Yoga review reports improved IBS symptoms, with confirmation still needed
Studies reported improvements in bowel symptoms and well-being compared with usual care or waiting lists, but the review calls the evidence preliminary.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review reported improvements in bowel symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression with yoga compared with usual care or waiting lists. However, it included evidence from randomized and uncontrolled studies and described the findings as preliminary. The abstract does not establish how durable or clinically noticeable the improvements were, or which yoga approach works best.
The abstract provides no study durations, detailed quality assessments, or pooled effect estimate. Its reported symptom effect sizes form a range across selected studies, and the authors call for larger, higher-quality research.
What researchers found
Change in IBS Symptom Severity Scale scores
Across studies prioritizing symptom severity, yoga versus usual care or wait-list controls; assessment timing was not reported.
What counted as yoga
The review considered studies involving yoga postures, breathing practices, and meditation. Researchers examined gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life, and psychological symptoms, so the reported outcomes covered several aspects of living with irritable bowel syndrome.
What the effect-size range means
Cohen's d measures how far apart groups' symptom-score changes were, in standard-deviation units based on score variability. The reported direction favored yoga. These values span separate studies; they are not a pooled effect or percentage symptom reduction.
The original publication
The Effectiveness of Yoga for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review.
Pavan F, Yadav SS, Costantino A et al.
Compr Physiol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41108584
- Record checked
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