Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Rose Ann Palac
If snoring or sleep apnea has been turning your nights into a stop‑and‑start symphony, here’s a refreshingly simple twist: blowing a conch shell. A small study from India suggests that practicing shankh blowing — deep inhalation followed by a strong, sustained exhale through a traditional conch — can meaningfully ease obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms.
After six months of regular practice (about 15 minutes, five days a week), participants with moderate OSA had four to five fewer breathing interruptions per hour, higher nighttime oxygen levels, and reported feeling 34% less sleepy during the day. For anyone who’s struggled with CPAP masks or is seeking a complementary option, this low-cost, low-tech routine is genuinely intriguing.
What makes this noteworthy isn’t just the novelty; it’s the mechanism. The focused exhale and gentle resistance appear to train and tone the upper‑airway muscles — especially areas like the soft palate that tend to collapse during sleep in OSA.
As study lead Dr. Krishna K. Sharma explains,
“It involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips. This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate.”
That muscular tune‑up could be the difference between fragmented sleep and a more restful night.
OSA is common, underdiagnosed, and linked to heart disease, stroke, and daytime fatigue — issues that only grow more relevant as we age. For someone who values independence, affordability, and natural approaches, shankh blowing offers a simple routine you can learn once and practice at home.
It’s not a replacement for medical care, and the study was small, but a larger multi-center trial is planned — exactly the kind of next step you want to see before widespread adoption. Still, as a potentially helpful adjunct, the early data are encouraging and empowering.
Curious to learn exactly how the routine was taught and what researchers measured? Check out the full story on Good News Network: Blowing in a Conch Shell Helps Treat Dangerous Snoring Symptoms for Folks With Sleep Apnea, Says Study
