Exploring the potential of conch shell blowing as a solution for sleep apnea treatment?
In a groundbreaking study published in the European Respiratory Journal Open Research in 2025, a team of researchers from Jaipur, Rajasthan, have suggested that conch blowing, a practice steeped in ancient wisdom, could potentially offer a low-cost, non-invasive alternative to traditional treatments for sleep apnea.
The study, led by Dr. Krishna K Sharma, Director and Head of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Department at the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute, involved 30 adults aged between 19 and 65, all suffering from moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Half of the group was assigned to train in conch blowing for at least 15 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, while the other half performed deep breathing exercises, the usual norm for treating sleep apnea.
After six months, those who practiced conch blowing reported a better quality of night-time sleep and experienced a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness. They also exhibited fewer apnea episodes at night, with four to five fewer breathing interruptions per hour, and higher oxygen levels during sleep compared to the control group.
The study suggests that the acoustic vibrations produced by the conch shell likely stimulate and strengthen the upper airway muscles, reducing airway collapsibility—a key factor in OSA. Participants also showed slight reductions in neck circumference, implying possible structural benefits to the airway.
Though the study's sample size was small and single-centered, the results are promising. Conch blowing might serve as a potential alternative to the commonly used continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system for treating sleep apnea, especially for patients struggling with device adherence.
Planned larger and multi-center trials aim to validate these findings and directly compare conch blowing against established treatments while exploring long-term efficacy and mechanisms of action. If these trials prove successful, conch blowing could offer a novel muscle-training intervention that reduces OSA severity and improves sleep outcomes in moderate cases.
However, it is important to note that further research is needed before widespread clinical adoption. For now, the findings present an exciting development in the field of sleep apnea treatment, drawing from ancient wisdom to tackle a modern health issue.
[1] Sharma, K. K., et al. (2025). Conch blowing as a potential therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: A randomized controlled trial. European Respiratory Journal Open Research. [2] [3] [4] [5] Additional references available upon request.
- The promising results from the study suggest that science could potentially integrate conch blowing as a health-and-wellness practice, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional therapies and treatments for sleep apnea.
- As research continues to validate the findings from the study and compare conch blowing against established treatments, it may emerge as a novel health-and-wellness intervention in the health-and-wellness industry, improving sleep outcomes and reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.
