An ancient ritual involving blowing into a large conch shell could help tackle symptoms of a common sleep disorder that affects eight million people in the UK. The practice of shankh blowing showed promising results in improving sleep quality for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea without requiring uncomfortable machinery.
The small trial, led by researchers in India, involved 30 people aged between 19 and 65 with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This condition occurs when throat walls relax and narrow or close during sleep, causing symptoms including choking noises, loud snoring and frequent waking.
Ancient practice shows modern benefits
Shankh blowing involves breathing in deeply before exhaling forcefully into a conch, the spiral-shaped shell from a species of sea snail. For the trial, 16 people received a traditional shankh used in yogic practices and were trained in proper technique before taking it home, while 14 others performed deep breathing exercises.
Both groups practised for a minimum of 15 minutes five days a week. Researchers monitored participants during sleep and assessed sleep quality and daytime tiredness levels.
Significant improvement in sleep quality
After six months, those who practised shankh blowing reported sleeping better and were 34 per cent less sleepy during the day. They also had higher oxygen levels in their blood during the night and experienced four to five fewer apnoeas per hour on average, where breathing stops during sleep.
Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, explained the technique's distinctive approach. "It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips," he said.
How the technique strengthens airways
The action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate. These areas often collapse during sleep in people with OSA, according to Dr Sharma.
"The shankh's unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles," he added. The technique could offer a promising alternative to current treatments.
Alternative to uncomfortable machines
Continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) machines are the first line of treatment for OSA. They involve patients wearing a mask that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while sleeping, but many find them uncomfortable.
"While effective, many patients find it uncomfortable and struggle to use it consistently," Dr Sharma said. He suggests shankh blowing could be a "simple low-cost, breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication".
Larger trials planned
Researchers are now planning a larger trial involving several hospitals to validate findings in a broader, more diverse population. They want to assess how shankh blowing performs over longer periods and study its effects on airway muscle tone, oxygen levels and sleep in greater detail.
"We're particularly interested in comparing shankh blowing with standard treatments like Cpap, and in examining its potential help in more severe forms of OSA," Dr Sharma said. The next phase will help determine the technique's effectiveness across different patient groups.
Expert reaction to findings
Professor Sophia Schiza, head of the European Respiratory Society group on sleep disordered breathing at the University of Crete, Greece, welcomed the research. She noted that OSA patients have poor quality sleep and higher risks of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
"This is an intriguing study that shows the ancient practice of shankh blowing could potentially offer an OSA treatment for selected patients by targeting muscles training," Professor Schiza said. "A larger study will help provide more evidence for this intervention which could be of benefit as a treatment option or in combination with other treatments in selected OSA patients."
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
