Monash Review Finds Controlled Breathing Lowers Substance Cravings

A systematic review published in the journal Addiction, led by Dr. Ariel Dart Roxburgh of Monash University, analyzed 20 controlled‑breathing trials involving 1,249 participants. The review evaluated six breathing methods—including heart‑rate variability biofeedback, resonant breathing, yogic breathing, rhemercise, mimicking smoking and three‑part breathing—and found modest but statistically significant reductions in cravings for alcohol, tobacco, opioids and other substances. The authors note that non‑HRV techniques showed stronger evidence for immediate, single‑session craving relief, while HRV‑based programs were more effective for longer‑term reduction.

The study highlights the low‑cost, scalable nature of breathwork interventions, especially when delivered through smartphones, which could reach the majority of the global population. Researchers call for larger, pre‑registered trials with standardized measures to confirm these findings and assess effects on withdrawal and dependence, which were less consistently reported.