A new study by researchers in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has found that the ancient practice of blowing a conch shell, or shankh, may be more effective in easing the symptoms of sleep apnoea compared to deep breathing exercises. The findings, published in the journal ERJ Open Research, suggest that this simple, low-cost practice could be a promising alternative for people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
The study, led by Dr. Krishna Sharma of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute, involved a randomized controlled trial with 30 adults diagnosed with moderate OSA. The participants were divided into two groups: one was trained to blow a conch shell for at least 15 minutes a day, five days a week, over six months, while the other group performed deep breathing exercises for the same duration.
After the six-month period, the researchers observed significant improvements in the conch-blowing group compared to the deep-breathing group. The shankh-blowing participants reported a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness, felt they had better quality sleep, and experienced on average four to five fewer apnoea events (pauses in breathing) per hour during the night. They also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood while sleeping.
The researchers believe that the unique technique of blowing a conch, which involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through pursed lips, helps to strengthen the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate. This muscle training could help to keep the airway open during sleep, preventing the collapse that leads to sleep apnoea.
Dr. Sharma noted that while Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are the “gold standard” treatment for sleep apnoea, many patients find them uncomfortable or difficult to use consistently. This makes conch-blowing a potentially valuable, and culturally familiar, alternative or complementary therapy for select patients. The research team is now planning a larger, multi-hospital trial to further confirm these findings and assess the practice’s effectiveness in comparison to standard treatments.
