1MD Scholar, Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, College of Ayurved and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India
Email: chavanmayurim@gmail.com
2Professor, Department of Public Health and Nutrition, Maharashtra University of Health Science (Nashik) Regional Center Pune, Maharashtra, India
Email: kirti4bhati@gmail.com
3Professor and HOD, Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, College of Ayurved and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India
Email: sudeep.menon@bharatividyapeeth.edu
4Associate Professor, Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, College of Ayurved and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India
Email: patil.dhananjay@bharatividyapeeth.edu
5Assistant Professor, Department of Swasthavritta, IIMS Ayurved College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Email: sonalikorde@gmail.com
6Assistant Professor, Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, College of Ayurved and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India
Email: patilanuja2710@gmail.com
Background: Police personnel represent one of the most high-stress occupational groups globally, facing chronic exposure to trauma, organizational pressures, and irregular working conditions that predispose them to psychosomatic disorders and psychological distress. Traditional pharmacological interventions for stress management often carry risks of dependency and side effects, necessitating the exploration of non-pharmacological alternatives rooted in traditional medicine systems.
Objective: This review critically examines the therapeutic efficacy of Bhramari Pranayama—a traditional yogic breathing technique involving controlled humming sound production—on stress reduction in police personnel, analyzing its physiological mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and implications for occupational health.
Methods: This review synthesizes findings from a clinical trial conducted at Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, Pune, involving 34 police personnel who practiced Bhramari Pranayama daily for 30 days (5–10 minutes per session). Stress levels were quantitatively assessed using validated instruments: the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) questionnaire for mental stress and the Organizational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Org) for occupational stressors. Statistical analysis employed paired t-tests to evaluate pre- and post-intervention differences.
The intervention demonstrated statistically significant reductions in stress parameters. Mental stress scores (ISMA) decreased by 40.62% (mean reduction: 12.38 to 7.353, p < 0.001), while organizational stress scores (PSQ-Org) improved by 34.16% (mean reduction: 68.44 to 45.06, p < 0.001). The majority of participants (91.18%) reported moderate improvement in overall stress symptoms. Notably, personnel with Pitta-Vata constitutional type (Prakriti), comprising 29.41% of the sample, exhibited heightened baseline stress vulnerability.
Bhramari Pranayama emerges as an effective, safe, and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention for managing occupational stress in law enforcement personnel. The practice operates through parasympathetic nervous system activation, cortisol reduction, and balancing of Rajas and Tamas gunas while promoting Sattva—mechanisms that address both the physiological and psychological dimensions of stress. Integration of this yogic technique into police wellness programs could significantly enhance emotional resilience, job performance, and holistic health outcomes in this high-risk occupational cohort.
Keywords: Bhramari Pranayama, occupational stress, police personnel, yoga therapy, Ayurveda, stress management, parasympathetic nervous system, alternative medicine.
How to cite this article: Chavan M, Bhati K, Menon S, Patil D, Korde S, Patil A. Effect of Bhramari Pranayama on Stress Management in Police Personnel: A Critical Review. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(9s): 1-14; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.9s.1
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None