Effect of Yoga Nidra on Women's Health: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Women’s health is influenced by various physiological, psychological factors and hormonal changes across different life stages including menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and mental well-being. This review intends to narrate the present evidence of Yoga Nidra on women’s health. A literature review was performed using the keywords “Yoga Nidra and Women’s health” in PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library from inception to 2024. A total of 3790 were retrieved, and out of that 10 studies were selected for evaluation after inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review comprised experimental publications, case studies, and case series in English describing the effect of Yoga Nidra. The overwhelming body of research indicates that Yoga Nidra treatments have positive impacts in both physiological and therapeutic settings. Findings from the studies conclude that Yoga Nidra improves neurocognitive, mood, and sleep, and decreases anxiety and depression related to pregnancy, cervical cancer, and menstrual abnormalities in patients. They were also proven to help treat several clinical problems like obesity, menopausal symptoms, and mental health conditions like stress. In general, Yoga Nidra can be practiced safely if it is done under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Further large-scale studies with rigorous designs are required to fully understand the mechanisms underlying Yoga Nidra.
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References
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