Sleep Apnea Relief Comes by Blowing Through This Iconic Shell

An intriguing new study has found that symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be significantly reduced by regular sessions of blowing through a conch shell. And it’s not the first time scientists have explored this.

Researchers from India’s Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute conducted a randomized controled trial involving 30 participants with moderate OSA, aged 19-65 years, to assess whether conch-shell blowing could be effective in improving daytime and nighttime symptoms of the common condition.

“In my clinical practice, several patients reported feeling more rested and experiencing fewer symptoms after regularly practising shankh blowing – a traditional yogic breathing exercise involving exhaling through a conch shell,” explained Dr Krishna K Sharma from the research institute. “These observations led us to design a scientific study to rigorously test whether this simple, ancient practice could serve as a meaningful therapy for people with OSA.”