PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental condition. Information about it includes research involving options such as Beta-Alanine, CBD (Cannabidiol), and MCT Oil.

Understand PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) as a mental condition with clear, accessible information.

16What may help

This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.

What may help

What studies found for each option, best evidence first.

16 options:1 good evidence4 some evidence8 not enough evidence3 not tested in people

What studies foundSize of effect

Mindfulness MeditationpracticeGood evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Good human studies found a benefit, and they mostly agree. This is about what studies measured, not a cure.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Open the Mindfulness Meditation page
MeditationpracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A 2024 pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded combined 61 studies and 3440 subjects; all four meditation categories were reported to reduce PTSD symptoms, with Transcendental Meditation showing the largest effect (g = -1.13).
Open the Meditation page
YogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 6 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded reported a small effect, and a review of randomized trials reported reduced PTSD symptoms.
Open the Yoga page
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)practiceSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
An RCT of 145 people with PTSD found greater symptom improvement with IACT than with a waitlist. A 2025 review also reported ACT as effective, without specifying an outcome or size of benefit in its summary.
Open the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) page
Hatha YogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A review combining analyses whose study designs were not recorded described three studies in which intensive programs integrating yoga reduced PTSD symptoms. In a trial involving 131 people selected for a current PTSD diagnosis with MST as the index trauma, TCTSY improved PTSD severity within groups.
Open the Hatha Yoga page
Expressive WritingpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
1 of 2 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
A network meta-analysis pooling 44 randomized trials found that expressive writing improved PTSD symptoms compared with a waiting list control.
Open the Expressive Writing page
Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)practiceNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 4 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Open the Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta) page
BreathworkpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A trial in 144 people with PTSD undergoing laparoscopy found pre-operative relaxation techniques reduced emergence agitation and improved hemodynamic stability.
Open the Breathwork page

DancepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
In a within-group study, 24 participants had reductions in RHS-15, PCL-S and DASS-21 scores after 8 weekly Dance/Movement Therapy sessions; the PCL-S score fell below the clinical cutoff at posttest. A review also described findings in populations with PTSD as promising.
Open the Dance page
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)practiceNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
In a 2025 pilot trial of 40 participants, sleep scores improved in the subgroup with clinically significant sleep disturbances, but there was no difference between groups compared with LIT and no inactive control group.
Open the High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) page
Transcendental MeditationpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2025 RCT in 203 people found Transcendental Meditation non-inferior to PE and superior to HE for improving PTSD symptoms.
Open the Transcendental Meditation page
Vinyasa YogapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A single-arm pre-post study in 18 veterans with a PCL-M score of 30 or higher reported a decrease in PCL-M scores, without a control group.
Open the Vinyasa Yoga page
Gardening TherapypracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2021 review discussed potential benefits of horticultural therapy for PTSD, but did not describe it as a first-line treatment.
Open the Gardening Therapy page
Coherent BreathingpracticeNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
Slow, paced breathing is incorporated into trauma therapies for PTSD to reduce hyperarousal and support emotion regulation.
Open the Coherent Breathing page
Gratitude JournalpracticeNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
Open the Gratitude Journal page
Yin YogapracticeNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
Slow, interoceptive yoga may help reduce PTSD symptoms as an adjunct, but the evidence described is for trauma-sensitive yoga broadly, not Yin Yoga specifically.
Open the Yin Yoga page

Show all 16

The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.

What may help

Interventions recorded as helping with this condition16 listed

Highest probability, strongest evidence

PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyHighSourceRCT
A pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded found a reduction in PTSD symptoms (SMD=-0.20), alongside changes in depression, quality of life, and mindfulness. Another pooled analysis reported an improvement versus control after treatment, but the between-group effect was not significant at follow-up.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Study result
Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (832 patients) showing significant reduction in PTSD symptoms (SMD=-0.20), depression (SMD=-0.25), and improvement in quality of life (SMD=0.40) and mindfulness (SMD=0.41)
Open Mindfulness Meditation
→

Medium probability(4)

PracticesMeditationCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A 2024 pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded combined 61 studies and 3440 subjects; all four meditation categories were reported to reduce PTSD symptoms, with Transcendental Meditation showing the largest effect (g = -1.13).
Who was studied
People with a condition
Study result
61 studies, 3440 subjects; all four meditation categories significantly reduced PTSD symptoms; TM showed the largest effect (g = -1.13).
Open Meditation
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PracticesYogaCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis whose study designs were not recorded reported a small effect (d = -0.31, p = .027), and a review of randomized trials reported reduced PTSD symptoms.
Who was studied
Healthy people and patients
Anxiety Generalized
Insomnia
Lyme Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Ocd
Pregnancy
+1 more
Study result
Most robust cluster effect in direct model (d = -0.31, p = .027) and in age-moderated model (intercept d = -1.99, p = .005).
Open Yoga
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PracticesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)CertaintyMediumSourceClinical
An RCT of 145 people with PTSD found greater symptom improvement with IACT than with a waitlist. A 2025 review also reported ACT as effective, without specifying an outcome or size of benefit in its summary.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Included in systematic review (Table 3); ACT reported effective.
Open Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
→
PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A review combining analyses whose study designs were not recorded described three studies in which intensive programs integrating yoga reduced PTSD symptoms. In a trial involving 131 people selected for a current PTSD diagnosis with MST as the index trauma, TCTSY improved PTSD severity within groups.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Anxiety Generalized
Depression
Eating Disorder Anorexia
Eating Disorder Bulimia
Ptsd
Study result
Three studies (Zalta n=191, Steele n=85, Zepeda Medez n=12) showing clinically meaningful or statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms (PCL-5, Mississippi Scale) within intensive programs integrating yoga
Open Hatha Yoga
→

Low probability(11)

PracticesExpressive WritingCertaintyLowSourceMeta-analysis
A network meta-analysis pooling 44 randomized trials found that expressive writing improved PTSD symptoms compared with a waiting list control.
Who was studied
Healthy people and patients
Eating Disorder
Ptsd
Study result
Network meta-analysis of 44 RCTs showing significant improvement in PTSD symptoms with expressive writing compared to waiting list control.
Open Expressive Writing
→
PracticesLoving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)CertaintyLowSourceRCT
In a 2021 randomized trial of 184 people, Loving-Kindness Meditation was noninferior to CPT for PTSD symptoms, with a within-condition effect size of d=0.66 at 6 months. A separate study of 56 veterans, some with PTSD, found temporary benefits in self-compassion and hyperarousal.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Noninferior to CPT for PTSD symptoms; within-condition effect size d=0.66 for LKM at 6 months.
Open Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)
→
PracticesBreathworkCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A trial in 144 people with PTSD undergoing laparoscopy found pre-operative relaxation techniques reduced emergence agitation and improved hemodynamic stability.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Study result
RCT showing pre-operative relaxation techniques significantly reduced emergence agitation and improved hemodynamic stability in PTSD patients undergoing laparoscopy.
Open Breathwork
→
PracticesDanceCertaintyLowSourceClinical
In a within-group study, 24 participants had reductions in RHS-15, PCL-S and DASS-21 scores after 8 weekly Dance/Movement Therapy sessions; the PCL-S score fell below the clinical cutoff at posttest. A review also described findings in populations with PTSD as promising.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Significant reductions in RHS-15, PCL-S and DASS-21 scores after 8 weekly DMT sessions in a within-group design; PCL-S fell below the clinical cutoff at posttest.
Open Dance
→
PracticesHigh-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)CertaintyLowSourceClinical
In a 2025 pilot trial of 40 participants, sleep scores improved in the subgroup with clinically significant sleep disturbances, but there was no difference between groups compared with LIT and no inactive control group.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Pilot RCT showing significant improvement in PSQI and WASO in subsample with clinically significant sleep disturbances, though no group difference vs LIT and no inactive control.
Open High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
→
PracticesTranscendental MeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A 2025 RCT in 203 people found Transcendental Meditation non-inferior to PE and superior to HE for improving PTSD symptoms.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
RCT showing TM non-inferior to PE and superior to HE for PTSD symptom improvement; cost-effectiveness analysis showing TM dominant
Open Transcendental Meditation
→
PracticesVinyasa YogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A single-arm pre-post study in 18 veterans with a PCL-M score of 30 or higher reported a decrease in PCL-M scores, without a control group.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Single-arm pre-post study of 18 veterans with PCL-M score of 30 or higher; significant PCL-M decrease reported without a control group.
Open Vinyasa Yoga
→
PracticesGardening TherapyCertaintyLowSourceReview
A 2021 review discussed potential benefits of horticultural therapy for PTSD, but did not describe it as a first-line treatment.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Ptsd
Study result
Narrative review discussing potential benefits of horticultural therapy for PTSD, but not a first-line treatment.
Open Gardening Therapy
→
PracticesCoherent BreathingCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Slow, paced breathing is incorporated into trauma therapies for PTSD to reduce hyperarousal and support emotion regulation.
Study result
Slow, paced breathing is integrated into trauma therapies to reduce hyperarousal and improve emotion regulation in PTSD.
Open Coherent Breathing
→
PracticesGratitude JournalCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Higher trait gratitude is associated with lower PTSD symptom severity, and gratitude exercises may serve as an adjunct to trauma-focused treatment; controlled evidence is limited.
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PracticesYin YogaCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Slow, interoceptive yoga may help reduce PTSD symptoms as an adjunct, but the evidence described is for trauma-sensitive yoga broadly, not Yin Yoga specifically.
Study result
Slow, interoceptive yoga may help reduce PTSD symptoms as an adjunct. Evidence is for trauma-sensitive yoga broadly, not yin specifically.
Open Yin Yoga
→

What to avoid

Interventions recorded as making it worse

Nothing in this library is currently recorded as making PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.

Browse the supplements that are written up

How to read the evidence

Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound

StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.

Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real

Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence

Source — where the data comes from

Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
ClinicalA human clinical study
Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested

Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)

AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only

Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding

A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement

Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.

Full write-up

What is it

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental condition. Information about it includes research involving options such as Beta-Alanine, CBD (Cannabidiol), and MCT Oil. This educational reference does not replace individualized medical guidance; consult a clinician with questions about the condition.

Evidence-backed options

The options associated with PTSD have limited evidence and differ substantially in how directly they have been studied. Beta-Alanine and MCT Oil have been examined in rats rather than in people. In these animal studies, Beta-Alanine increased brain carnosine concentrations and reduced PTSD-like behavior, while oral MCT Oil attenuated anxiety-like behavior after stress exposure. These findings do not establish that either option is effective for people with PTSD.

CBD (Cannabidiol) has some human evidence from one chart review, in which it was described as helpful for anxiety and insomnia related to social anxiety disorder and PTSD. A chart review can describe observed clinical experiences, but it does not establish effectiveness in the same way as a controlled clinical trial. The available findings do not provide enough information here about treatment duration, dose, or how quickly effects appeared, and they should not be used to infer a standard approach. Anyone considering an option for PTSD should discuss it with a qualified clinician.

What to avoid

For PTSD, Gratitude Journal is flagged based on its stated physiological properties. The rationale does not specify which properties are involved, so no more specific explanation can be given here.

Meditation is flagged because intensive mindfulness practice without trauma-informed modifications may trigger flashbacks and emotional overwhelm in people with PTSD. Adapted protocols and therapeutic support are identified as important considerations when mindfulness practices are used in this context.

These cautions concern how an approach may interact with PTSD symptoms and the need for appropriate adaptation or support. Anyone considering either practice while managing a medical condition can discuss its suitability with a clinician.