A Narrative Review of Clinical Trails and Hatha Yoga Insights on the Impact of Yogic Practices in Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea
Author(s): Diksha, Charchit Kumar
DOI: 10.54660/STMJRD.2026.09.03.01-16
Abstract:
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD)- defined as cramping menstrual pain without any underlying pelvic pathology – is the most frequently reported gynaecological issue among adolescent girls and young women worldwide. While standard treatments such as NSAIDs and hormonal therapies can relieve symptoms, they often carry potential side effect and fail to address the associated psychological and social dimensions. Yoga, a mind -body technique that incorporates breath control (pranayama) relaxation/meditation and physical postures (asanas), has become a successful supplementary intervention. Objective: Clinical trial evidence on the effectiveness of yoga for primary dysmenorrhea from 2010 to 2024 is summarized in this narrative review, which also uniquely connects clinical findings to traditional Hatha Yoga teachings (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita). The review objectives are to: (1) describe clinical results; (2) find pertinent yogic practices from classical texts; and (3) suggest mechanical connections between conventional wisdom and scientific discoveries. Methods: Through August 2024, the following keywords were used to search electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar): "yoga," "asana," "pranayama," "relaxation," "Hatha Yoga," "primary dysmenorrhea," "menstrual pain," and "menstrual cramps." About 900 publications on yoga and Primary Dysmenorrhea (PD) were found through the search (2010–2024), of which 40–50 were clinical studies and 15–20 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Of the retrieved articles, between 40 and 50 percent were free full-text. Twelve clinical trials that met the inclusion criteria were thoroughly synthesized (eight RCTs and four quasi-experimental). Results: Yoga therapies, ranging from asana-dominant programs to pranayama and Yoga Nidra, consistently provided significant decreases in monthly pain (VAS) and improvements in period distress and quality of life across the twelve included trials (total pooled N ≈ 900). The strongest multi-domain effects were typically produced by integrated programs that combined asana, pranayama, and relaxation. Positive physiological or biochemical effects (e.g., decreased homocysteine, improved hormonal indicators) were documented in several investigations. Conclusions: For the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, integrated Hatha yoga practices seem to be a useful, low-risk supplement. Plausible mechanisms include enhanced pelvic circulation, autonomic regulation, endocrine modulation, and psychophysiological integration when traditional textual prescriptions are mapped to clinical findings. Larger samples, objective mechanistic measurements, and standardized Hatha-based methods should be used in future randomized studies. Integrated Hatha Yoga practices appear to be an effective, low-risk adjunct for managing primary dysmenorrhea. Mapping classical textual prescriptions to clinical findings suggests plausible mechanisms: improved pelvic circulation, autonomic regulation, endocrine modulation, and psychophysiological integration. Future randomized trials should adopt standardized Hatha-based protocols, larger samples, and objective mechanistic measures.
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How to cite this article:
Diksha., Kumar, C. (2026). A Narrative Review of Clinical Trails and Hatha Yoga Insights on the Impact of Yogic Practices in Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea. The Scholars Time: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Research and Development. 09 (03). 1-07.