US EditionAncient Shankh Blowing Practice Found to Improve Sleep and Alertness in OSA Patients
JAIPUR, INDIA, AUG 10 – A small trial showed shankh blowing reduced daytime sleepiness by 34% and decreased breathing interruptions by four to five apneas per hour, offering a low-cost alternative to CPAP.
- Between May 2022 and January 2024, Dr. Krishna K Sharma from Jaipur's Eternal Heart Care Centre conducted a small randomized controlled trial involving 30 individuals aged 19 to 65 who had moderate OSA.
- The study followed previous observations that shankh blowing, a traditional yogic breathing exercise, might reduce OSA symptoms by strengthening upper airway muscles through deep inhalation and forceful exhalation.
- Participants who practiced shankh blowing experienced improved sleep quality, felt significantly less fatigued during the day—showing a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness—demonstrated four to five fewer apnea events per hour, and maintained higher overnight blood oxygen levels compared to those who performed deep breathing exercises.
- Dr. Sharma stated, "The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive," involving deep inhalation and sustained exhalation, creating vibrations and airflow resistance that likely tone the soft palate and throat muscles.
- The findings suggest shankh blowing could offer a simple, low-cost alternative or adjunct to CPAP for selected OSA patients, especially where CPAP use is uncomfortable or inaccessible, with larger trials planned to validate these results.
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Ancient shankh blowing practice found to improve sleep and alertness in OSA patients
People who practised blowing through a conch shell regularly for six months experienced a reduction in their symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a small randomised controlled trial published today (Monday) in ERJ Open Research.
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