Physiologic Effects of Om Chanting: A Narrative Review.

Yoga is an ancient lifestyle practice and science of the spiritual realm. According to the philosophy of yoga, the most sacred syllable of chanting is Om. Despite ample evidence on the effect of Om chanting on several physiologic variables, there is no comprehensive review of Om chanting and its effect on various systems of the body. To provide a comprehensive review of the evidence-based effect of Om chanting on various systems of the body. To find the relevant articles in English, a literature search was conducted using the search terms "Om chanting," "AUM chanting," and "Om meditation" in the Cochrane Library and PubMed up to March 17, 2023. Articles available from the literature search (n=130) were screened and potentially eligible articles were recognized and incorporated (n=21) into this review. Om chanting has been shown to modulate brain activity, regulate neurohemodynamics, activate parasympathetic activity, improve lipid profile, memory, emotional processing, and relaxation, and reduce stress, blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, and pain without any adverse effects. Available scientific literature suggests that Om chanting is a safe, feasible, and cost-effective intervention that produces beneficial effects on the nervous, cardiopulmonary, and musculoskeletal systems. However, additional basic and clinical studies are needed to explore its effect on different systems of the body.