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Mind–body therapies and control of inflammatory biology: A descriptive review
Open accessAbstract
The use of mind-body therapies, including Tai Chi, Qigong, yoga, and meditation, has grown steadily in recent years. These approaches have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, and research has begun to examine the impact of these therapies on biological processes, including inflammation. A review of 26 randomized controlled trials was conducted to describe the effects of mind-body therapies (MBTs) on circulating, cellular, and genomic markers of inflammation. This qualitative evaluation showed mixed effects of MBTs on circulating inflammatory markers, including CRP and IL-6, and on measures of stimulated cytokine production. More consistent findings were seen for genomic markers, with trials showing decreased expression of inflammation-related genes and reduced signaling through the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. Potential mechanisms for these effects are discussed, including alterations in neuroendocrine, neural, and psychological and behavioral processes.
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“Other forms of behavioral interventions that have been used for the treatment of fear-and anxiety-based disorder, such as community-based educational intervention, exercise, yoga, and mediation, have also been associated with decreases in inflammation (Bower and Irwin, 2016;Pace et al, 2009;Villablanca et al, 2015).”
From Inflammation in Fear- and Anxiety-Based Disorders: PTSD, GAD, and Beyond (2017) · cites this paper as Bower and Irwin, 2016
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“Seven different randomized controls of mind-body therapies (ie, Tai chi, meditation, Yoga) have all been shown to reverse the pattern of leukocyte transcriptional alterations including activation of genes regulated by the proinflammatory NF-κB/Rel family (Bower and Irwin, 2016).”
From Sleep health: Reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity (2017) · cites this paper as Bower and Irwin, 2016
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BackgroundResultInfluentialPsychosocial Interventions and Immune System Function
Shields, G. S., Spahr, C. M., & Slavich, G. M. (2020) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0431 · Cited by 322
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“Such complementary practices have been found to act as a regulating influence on a number of key inflammatory functions that SARS-CoV-2 disrupts.(16) The use of certain complementary practices as potentially effective adjunctive means of treating and/or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection must be put to rigorous scientific”
The Effect of Mind-Body Therapies on Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Djalilova, D., Schulz, P., Berger, A., Case, A., Kupzyk, K., & Ross, A. (2018) · Biological Research for Nursing · doi:10.1177/1099800418820162 · Cited by 77
Psychoneuroimmunology—developments in stress research
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“they also beneficially affect readout parameters of the immune system (summarized in [12]).”
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Self-citationA Randomized Trial of Yoga for Children Hospitalized With Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crisis
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“Recent studies pointed out that mindbody exercise could provoke the moderate elevations of antiinflammatory factor interleukin-10 and inhibit the expression of proinflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β [44].”
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“In addition, mind-body therapies have a significant effect on the cellular and genomic markers of inflammation, eliciting decreased expression of inflammation-related genes and reduced signaling through the proinflammatory transcription factor NF𝜅B [65].”
Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023
Jamil, A., Gutlapalli, S. D., Ali, M., Oble, M. J. P., Sonia, S. N., George, S., Shahi, S. R., Ali, Z., Abaza, A., & Mohammed, L. (2023) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.40650 · Cited by 47
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“However, not all studies have found or replicated bene fi cial effects of contemplative practices on biomarkers of health (Black & Slavich, 2016; Bower & Irwin, 2016).”
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A short Mindfulness retreat can improve biological markers of stress and inflammation
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“Also, Mindfulness practice may positively enhance biological functioning through the regulation of inflammatory pathways (Bower and Irwin, 2016).”
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Effects of Yoga in Daily Life program in rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial
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Inflammation as a Pathophysiologic Pathway to Anhedonia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
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Self-citationPotential Role of Yoga Intervention in the Management of Chronic Non-malignant Pain
Gupta, S., Gautam, S., Kumar, U., Arora, T., & Dada, R. (2022) · Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2022/5448671 · Cited by 40
“Rheumatoid arthritis IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, and ESR, [84] CRP, ROS [91] NFKB [100] IL-10 [101] Type 2 diabetes IL-8, IL-6, IL-18, CRP, and IL-6 [102] Low back pain TNF-α [103]”
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“…to accelerated biological aging through telomere shortening, DNA replication errors, and cellular damage (Lin et al., 2012; Price et al., 2013; Revesz et al., 2014; Blackburn et al., 2015; Zahran et al., 2015) or increased NF-κB activity (Irwin and Cole, 2011; Cole, 2014; Bower and Irwin, 2016).”
BackgroundInfluentialBower, J., Radin, A., & Kuhlman, K. (2022) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2022.104104 · Cited by 30
Self-citationAbrahão, C. A., Bomfim, E., Lopes-Júnior, L. C., & Pereira-da-Silva, G. (2019) · Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1177/2515690x19838897 · Cited by 30
RetractedShi, J. Y., Hu, Z.-Y., Wen, Y.-R., Wang, Y.-F., Lin, Y., Zhao, H., Lin, Y.-T., & Wang, Y. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1046518 · Cited by 35
“It involves various slow body movements synchronized with musculoskeletal relaxation, breathing control, and a meditative state of mind (Bower and Irwin, 2016; Zou et al., 2018).”
BackgroundLindsay, E. K., Creswell, J. D., Stern, H. J., Greco, C. M., Walko, T. D., Dutcher, J. M., Wright, A. G. C., Brown, K. W., & Marsland, A. L. (2022) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2022.05.001 · Cited by 38
Dao Yin (a.k.a. Qigong): Origin, Development, Potential Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications
Chen, X., Cui, J.-B., Li, R., Norton, R., Park, J., Kong, J., & Yeung, A. (2019) · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1155/2019/3705120 · Cited by 29
“Recent studies have suggested that traditional Dao Yinmethods such as Tai Chi may reduce stress and modulate the inflammatory process [37, 38].”
BackgroundDistress Management Through Mind-Body Therapies in Oncology.
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“Biomarkers have also been studied, with decreases observed in inflammatory markers including gene expression (17) and steeper”
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“Similarly, Bower and colleagues found significant reductions in pro-inflammatory gene expression and inflammatory signaling at post-intervention in a group mindfulness program for breast cancer survivors [98], and Irwin and colleague review a large literature supporting altered inflammation related gene expression fol…”
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“Potential interventions targeting inflammation include increasing physical activity, improving sleep, reducing stress, and administering drugs that block inflammatory pathways.(64-72)”
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Pathways from childhood maltreatment to cardiometabolic disease: a research review
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“…could reduce their future risk of physical health problems and potentially also improve mental health outcomes. and emerging evidence suggests that treatments for mental health problems can lower preclinical physical health risks in maltreated children (Pace et al., 2013; Bower and Irwin, 2016).”
BackgroundLopez-Maya, E., Olmstead, R., & Irwin, M. R. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219425 · Cited by 27
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Effects of Mind–Body Exercises on Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
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Qigong and Musculoskeletal Pain
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“Randomized controlled trials have also demonstrated that mind-body interventions (eg, tai chi, yoga) can improve these symptoms and decrease inflammatory signaling in cancer populations (96,97).”
BackgroundRomero-García, P. A., Ramírez-Pérez, S., Miguel-González, J. J., Guzmán-Silahua, S., Castañeda-Moreno, J. A., Komninou, S., & Rodríguez-Lara, S. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12151547 · Cited by 23
“The aforementioned systemic changes can be molecularly explained by a yoga-induced decrease in NF-κ B activity and the activation of glucocorticoid receptors; as a consequence, the heart rate decreases, tissular perfusion increases, and the overall mood is enhanced [40,94].”
InfluentialQiao, H., Hao, X., & Wang, G. (2024) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12891-024-07278-4 · Cited by 23
“Tai chi, yoga, and baduanjin are the three most popular forms of mind–body exercise; researchers have examined their effects on biological processes and responses such as inflammation [8].”
BackgroundYoga and Qigong for Health: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
Boaventura, P., Jaconiano, S., & Ribeiro, F. M. (2022) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs12070222 · Cited by 26
“Several conditions that are responsive to yoga and qigong practices, such as fatigue, depression, and pain, comprise inflammatory processes [24], which may explain researchers’ growing interest in the impact of MBTs on inflammatory markers [25,26].”
BackgroundInfluentialBottaccioli, A. G., Bologna, M., & Bottaccioli, F. (2022) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23073932 · Cited by 30
“A review by Bower and Irwin, which touched on 26 different studies [153], analyzed the effects of mind–body techniques on some inflammatory markers, such as PCR, noting that tai chi, qi gong, and yoga are more likely to reduce their levels; it is important to underline that at least one half of the results are derived…”
BackgroundJung, S.-E., Ha, D.-J., Park, J.-H., Lee, B., Kim, M.-S., Sim, K.-L., Choi, Y. H., & Kwon, C. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18168855 · Cited by 28
“Studies examining the biological mechanisms of mind-body modalities have confirmed that these treatments have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties [10,11] that may be related to enhanced neurogenesis and neuroplasticity [12].”
BackgroundJiang, T., Hou, J., Sun, R., Dai, L., Wang, W., Wu, H., Zhang, T., & Su, B. (2020) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1093/abm/kaaa084 · Cited by 33
Maternal Sleep in Pregnancy and Postpartum Part II: Biomechanisms and Intervention Strategies
Carroll, J., Teti, D. M., Hall, M. H., & Christian, L. M. (2019) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1000-9 · Cited by 28
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Metadata
- Authors
- Bower, J. E., & Irwin, M. R.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bower, Julienne E.
- Venue
- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-01
- Volume
- 51
- Pages
- 1-11
- ISSN
- 0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4679419
- OpenAlex
- W758061270
- Cited by
- 388
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 13
- FWCI
- 2.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000124)
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG026364, R01AG034588, P30AG028748)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL079955, R01HL095799)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA032922)
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA160245, R01CA160427, R01CA119159)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- mind-body interventions, inflammation, Tai Chi, qigong, yoga, meditation, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, cytokine production, NF-κB signaling, inflammatory gene expression, neuroendocrine mechanisms, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, C-Reactive Protein, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Yoga, Gene Expression, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Cytokines, Treatment Outcome, Inflammation Mediators, Meditation, Tai Ji, Mind-Body Therapies, Young Adult
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