Blowing into a conch shell might provide a new way to tackle a serious snoring issue, as suggested by recent research from India. Participants who engaged in this ancient practice over six months saw a noticeable decline in symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep due to airway blockages.
OSA can result in loud snoring, restless nights, and drowsiness during the day, increasing the chances of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. The practice of blowing the conch shell, known as shankh blowing, has been a part of Indian tradition for centuries.
A study published in the European Respiratory Society’s ERJ Open Research indicated that individuals with moderate OSA who practiced this technique enjoyed improved sleep and felt more alert during the day. Importantly, they experienced fewer nighttime breathing disruptions.
The research determined that the act of conch blowing, a traditional yogic breathing exercise, could lessen reliance on medication or mechanical devices. At present, the primary treatment for OSA is the continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), which keeps the airway open by delivering air through a mask while sleeping.
“While it works well, many patients find CPAP quite uncomfortable and have trouble sticking with it,” noted Dr. Krishna K. Sharma, who led the study at the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur. In his practice, he observed several patients using the shankh-blowing technique, reporting that they felt more rested and had milder symptoms.
Dr. Sharma added, “These findings inspired us to create a scientific study to rigorously assess whether this ancient practice could offer actual benefits for those suffering from OSA.”
The study encompassed 30 participants, aged 19 to 65, with moderate OSA, who were evaluated at the Research Institute from 2022 to 2024. They underwent polysomnography, monitored overnight, and answered questions about their sleep quality and daytime alertness.
Participants were divided randomly into groups: one group learned to practice conch blowing, while the other practiced a deep breathing exercise. Those in the conch blowing group were given a traditional shankh and trained in the clinic before starting a home routine of at least 15 minutes, five days a week, with follow-up assessments after six months.
Compared to the deep breathing group, those practicing shankh blowing reported being 34% less sleepy during the day and had better sleep. Polysomnography revealed that they experienced four to five fewer apneas per hour and higher blood oxygen levels during the night.
Dr. Sharma explained, “The method of blowing the shankh is quite distinctive, involving a deep breath followed by a forceful exhalation through tightly puckered lips. This creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, potentially strengthening upper airway muscles, which often collapse during sleep in OSA patients.” He also noted that the conch’s unique shape may enhance certain acoustic and mechanical effects that support muscle tone.
For individuals with OSA, particularly those who find CPAP uncomfortable or unaffordable, this study presents a straightforward, low-cost alternative.
The research team acknowledged that their study is relatively small but expressed plans for a larger trial across multiple hospitals to validate and expand their findings. They aim to investigate how shankh blowing holds up against standard treatments like CPAP and its effectiveness in more severe OSA cases.
Professor Sophia Schiza, who heads the European Respiratory Society (ERS) group on sleep-disordered breathing, commented on the findings, saying, “Although CPAP and other treatments are based on careful evaluations of severity, the search for new treatments remains imperative.”
She found the study intriguing, noting that shankh blowing might offer a targeted muscular training approach for selected patients with OSA. A larger study could provide additional support for this method, potentially complementing existing treatments.
