For as long as humans have struggled with compulsion, the body itself has held quiet remedies waiting to be understood. A synthesis of twenty studies now suggests that the simple, ancient act of deliberate breathing may offer measurable relief from substance cravings — across nicotine, alcohol, opioids, and stimulants alike. Researchers at Monash University find the effect modest but consistent, pointing not to a cure but to an accessible complement: a way for the nervous system to find its footing in moments of acute want. In a world where addiction treatment remains out of reach for many, th