Herb & supplement monograph

Art Of Living Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by ·Updated June 2026
What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Art Of Living interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Art Of Living is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Art Of Living is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Art Of Living

0 medications have a known interaction with Art Of Living, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Art Of Living. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

  • Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
  • Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
  • Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
  • No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

  • Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
  • Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
  • Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

  • Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
  • Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Art Of Living combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
  • Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Monograph

Art Of Living: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by · Reviewed June 2026 ·
The bottom line

"Art of Living" is not a plant, herb, or dietary supplement. It is the name of a global nonprofit organization founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that teaches meditation, breathing techniques (such as Sudarshan Kriya), and yoga-based programs for stress and well-being. If you saw this name on a product label, check the actual ingredients, because there is no single herb called "Art of Living."

Common forms
Breathing programs, meditation courses, group classes
People commonly use it for
  • Stress and anxiety relief
  • Relaxation and calm
  • Improved sleep
  • Emotional well-being
  • General mental wellness

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance
OverallLimited data

This is the name of a wellness organization and its programs, not a single supplement, so there is no standard ingredient to assess.

PregnancyUse caution

Breathing and yoga practices vary in intensity, so pregnant people should check with a doctor and a qualified instructor first.

BreastfeedingLimited data

As a set of mind-body practices rather than an ingested product, there is no clear safety data; ask your healthcare provider.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

Art of Living is not a herb or dietary supplement. It is the name of a worldwide nonprofit organization started by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the early 1980s. The group is best known for teaching meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques, most famously a practice called Sudarshan Kriya.

Because it is an educational and wellness program rather than a pill, powder, or plant extract, there is no Latin name, plant part, or active compound to describe. People take part in classes, courses, and retreats rather than swallowing a product.

If you have seen "Art of Living" printed on a supplement bottle or food label, that is likely a brand name. In that case, you should read the actual ingredient list on the package to learn what you are really taking.

How it works

Because Art of Living is a set of practices and not a substance, it does not work through chemical compounds. Instead, the proposed benefits come from controlled breathing, meditation, and relaxation.

Researchers think slow, rhythmic breathing may help calm the body's stress response by shifting the nervous system toward a more relaxed (parasympathetic) state. This may lower heart rate and feelings of tension. These ideas are based mostly on small studies of breathing and meditation, and the exact mechanisms are still being studied.

Effectiveness

Does Art Of Living work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by .

Evidence overview · 2 uses evaluated
2 Insufficient evidence
How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.
2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.
3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.
4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.
5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.
6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.
7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Art Of Living, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 2 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Cognitive function
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in adolescents with visual impairment or complete blindness shows that learning Prajna yoga, also known as the Art of Living Intuition Program, improves mean scores for recognition and immediate recall on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) when compared to baseline. Continuing to practice the technique for 20 minutes per day for 40 days improves mean scores for delayed recall on the RAVLT. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group.

Sources Ref 106751
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Quality of life
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Although there has been interest in using Art of Living techniques to improve quality of life, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of Art of Living techniques for this purpose.

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

Gentle breathing and meditation are generally considered low-risk for healthy adults. Still, very intense or forceful breathing techniques can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or hyperventilation in some people.

People with serious heart or lung conditions, epilepsy, severe mental-health conditions, recent surgery, or who are pregnant should talk with their doctor before starting intense breathing programs. Always learn techniques from a qualified, trained instructor.

If "Art of Living" appears on a supplement you are considering, treat it like any other product: review the ingredients with a pharmacist, since the real safety depends on what is actually inside.

Side effects

As a breathing and meditation practice, common side effects are usually mild and may include dizziness, tingling, or feeling lightheaded during forceful breathing. Some people may feel emotional or restless when first starting meditation.

Serious problems are uncommon but can occur in people with certain heart, lung, or neurological conditions. Stop and seek help if you feel faint, have chest pain, or have trouble breathing during a practice.

Dosing

There is no pill or standardized dose because Art of Living is a program, not a supplement. People typically follow the schedule taught in their course, such as daily breathing or meditation practice for a set number of minutes.

If you are using a product that happens to be labeled "Art of Living," follow the directions on that product's label and ask a pharmacist whether the ingredients and amounts are appropriate for you.

References & further reading

The 1 references that drive our Art Of Living monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Kanchibhotla D, Gupte P, Harsora P, Kulkarni S. Impact of Prajña yoga on cognition in adolescents with congenital and adventitious visual impairment. Explore (NY). 2021 Jul 5:S1550-8307(21)00099-9.
Keep reading

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Art Of Living: Common Questions

What is Art Of Living used for, and does it work?
People use Art Of Living for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.
Does Art Of Living interact with prescription medications?
We do not currently list any known drug interactions for Art Of Living. This does not guarantee that none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist before combining it with your medications.
How are Art Of Living interactions rated?
Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.
Is it safe to take Art Of Living with my medications?
It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.
Where does this Art Of Living interaction information come from?
Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.
Is Art Of Living a herb or supplement?
No. Art Of Living is the name of a nonprofit organization and its meditation, yoga, and breathing programs, not a plant or dietary supplement. If you see the name on a product, check the actual ingredient list.
What is Art Of Living used for?
People most often use its programs to reduce stress and anxiety, relax, sleep better, and support emotional well-being. These are common goals of meditation and breathing practices in general.
Is it safe?
Gentle meditation and breathing are usually low-risk for healthy adults, but forceful breathing can cause dizziness. People with heart, lung, neurological, or serious mental-health conditions, and those who are pregnant, should check with a doctor first.
Can I do these practices during pregnancy?
Gentle relaxation may be fine, but some breathing and yoga techniques may not be suitable. Talk with your doctor and use only a qualified instructor while pregnant.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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