Nostril breathing trial reported subgroup patterns in immediate physiological responses
Researchers reported physiological changes within nostril-dominance groups. Anxiety scores also declined after quiet rest, leaving any specific anxiety advantage of breathing exercises uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
During sessions beginning with right-nostril dominance, left-nostril breathing increased selected heart rate variability measures, and left-nostril or alternate-nostril breathing lowered systolic blood pressure. These subgroup findings do not prove that dominance changes treatment effects. Anxiety scores fell after several breathing conditions and quiet rest, without a reported direct comparison establishing superiority over rest.
The abstract provides no effect sizes, lasting follow-up or direct comparison showing that treatment effects differ between dominance groups. Brief physiological responses cannot establish durable anxiety relief.
Airflow was checked each visit
Participants completed the conditions in random order on separate days. Researchers measured which nostril had greater airflow before each session, then reported some physiological findings according to that visit's resting dominance.
Anxiety also fell after rest
Anxiety scores declined after right-nostril, left-nostril and alternate-nostril breathing, as well as quiet rest, in both dominance groups. Changes within these conditions alone do not show that a breathing technique outperformed rest.
The original publication
Short-Term Effects of Nostril-Regulated Yoga Breathing on Autonomic Variables: A Randomized Crossover Trial.
Gandharva K, Sharma SK, Balkrishna A et al.
Int J Yoga Therap · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41765327
- Record checked
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