Blowing a Shankh: A Simple Way to Help with Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, or OSA, is a sleep problem where your breathing stops and starts repeatedly during the night. This happens because the airway in your throat gets blocked, causing loud snoring, gasping, or choking. It can make you feel tired during the day, irritable, and even increase the risk of health issues like high blood pressure or heart problems. In the UK, about 8 million people have OSA, and cases are rising in India too.

How Can Blowing a Shankh Help?

In India, blowing a shankh is a common ritual during prayers, believed to bring positive energy. Now, a study from the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, and the UK shows it can also help with sleep apnea. Here’s how:

• Strengthens Throat Muscles: Blowing a shankh is like a workout for your throat and breathing muscles. It strengthens the muscles that keep your airway open, reducing blockages during sleep.
• Improves Sleep Quality: The study found that people who blew a shankh regularly slept better and felt less tired during the day.
• Boosts Oxygen Levels: It also improves blood oxygen levels, helping people breathe better at night.

The study involved 30 people aged 19 to 65 with moderate OSA. They were split into two groups: one group blew a shankh for 15 minutes, five days a week, while the other did deep breathing exercises. After six months, the shankh group had better sleep, less daytime tiredness (34% less), and fewer breathing interruptions compared to the other group.

Why Is This Exciting?

The most common treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine, which pumps air through a mask to keep your airway open while you sleep. But CPAP machines are expensive, and many people find them uncomfortable to wear. Blowing a shankh is:

• Affordable: A shankh costs much less than a CPAP machine.
• Easy to Do: It’s a simple practice you can learn and do at home.
• Non-Invasive: No machines or medicines are needed, just your breath and a shankh.

Dr. Krishna K. Sharma, who led the study, says, “Shankh blowing is an easy, cheap, and natural way to improve sleep and reduce OSA symptoms without machines or drugs.”

How Does Shankh Blowing Work?

Blowing a shankh is like a yoga breathing exercise (pranayama). You take a deep breath through your nose, purse your lips, and blow air into the shankh to create a loud, vibrating sound. This strengthens the muscles in your throat and upper airway, which often collapse in OSA, causing breathing problems. It’s also calming, helping you relax and sleep better.

Other Benefits of Shankh Blowing

Beyond helping with sleep apnea, shankh blowing has other health perks:

• Stronger Lungs: It improves lung capacity, which is great for people with asthma or other breathing issues.
• Less Stress: The deep breathing calms your mind, reducing anxiety.
• Better Face and Neck Muscles: It can even reduce fine lines on your face and improve speech problems.
• Cleans the Environment: The sound is believed to clear negative energy and kill harmful bacteria.

Things to Keep in Mind

While the study is promising, it was small, with only 30 participants, so more research is needed to confirm the results. Dr. Erika Kennington, a research expert, says it’s too early to say shankh blowing can fully replace CPAP machines. It’s also important to learn the right technique from an expert to avoid straining your lungs or ears. People with high blood pressure, hernia, or glaucoma should avoid it, as blowing too hard can cause problems.

How to Start Blowing a Shankh

If you want to try it:

1. Get a traditional shankh and learn from someone experienced.
2. Hold the shankh firmly, take a deep breath through your nose, and blow steadily through pursed lips.
3. Practice for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, with a calm and focused mind.
4. Be patient—it may take weeks to see results.

Final Thoughts

Blowing a shankh, a sacred Indian tradition, could be a game-changer for people with sleep apnea. It’s a simple, low-cost way to improve sleep, strengthen breathing muscles, and feel more energized during the day. While it’s not a complete replacement for CPAP machines yet, it’s a promising alternative that combines ancient wisdom with modern health benefits. If you’re curious, talk to a doctor or yoga expert to see if shankh blowing is right for you!

Disclaimer: Consult a doctor before trying shankh blowing, especially if you have health conditions.