Ancient shell, modern relief: How blowing a conch could help sleep apnea

For many, sleep is a battlefield of snoring, gasps and exhaustion. But Indian researchers may have found a solution that doesn’t involve a noisy CPAP machine: a centuries-old yogic ritual with a conch shell.

Researchers based in Jaipur, India, enlisted 30 adults, ages 19-65, with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA. Half were taught to perform shankh blowing — exhaling forcefully through a conch shell for 15 minutes a day, five days a week — while the others practiced standard deep-breathing techniques. 

The results of the six-month trial were published in ERJ Open Research.

A breath of fresh evidence

By the end of the study, the conch-blowing group enjoyed striking improvements, researchers said. They reported a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness, four to five fewer apnea episodes per hour of sleep, better overnight oxygen levels and improved sleep quality.

They even experienced a modest reduction in BMI, compared to gains in the control group.

The act of inhaling deeply then exhaling forcefully, and creating vibration and airflow resistance, appears to tone the throat and soft-palate muscles, helping keep airways open during sleep. 

The real game-changer seemed to be the technique’s pronounced effect during REM sleep, when airway disruptions tend to be most dangerous. The study group showed a 21.8% reduction in apnea events during REM cycles. 

A low-cost, low-tech alternative

The appeal of shankh blowing lies in its simplicity. Unlike CPAP machines, which are effective but often uncomfortable and costly, this method is inexpensive, portable and culturally rooted. It adds a natural dimension of apnea treatment, complete with spiraling conch shells, ritual and the power of breath. 

“The way the shankh is blown is quite distinctive,” said Dr. Krishna K. Sharma, who led the research. “This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate, areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA.”

Call for larger trials, and cautious optimism 

Despite the researchers’ optimism, experts expressed caution. The study’s sample size was small, and the design open-label, which can introduce bias. Critics note that while promising, these findings need replication in larger, randomized and more rigorous trials.

But the researchers are already planning a larger, multi-hospital trial to validate results across diverse populations. That trial will compare shankh blowing directly with CPAP and other standard treatments.

“While CPAP and other treatments are available based on careful diagnosis of disease severity, there is still need for new treatments,” said Sophia Schiza, who heads the European Respiratory Society at the University of Crete in Greece. She was not involved in the study.

“This is an intriguing study that shows the ancient practice of shankh blowing could potentially offer an OSA treatment for selected patients by targeting muscle training,” Schiza told the Good News Network. “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.”

From a cultural practice to a subject of clinical study, shankh blowing illustrates how traditional activities can intersect with modern medicine. Preliminary research shows potential benefits for some patients. For now, though, experts recommend it as a complementary approach rather than a replacement, as research into its effects on sleep apnea continues.