Shellfish inhalation boosts health: an explanation of the process
A recent study has revealed that the practice of blowing into a traditional conch shell, known as a shankh or vamavarta, may offer significant benefits for individuals suffering from moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The study, which involved 30 adults with moderate OSA, showed that participants who blew into the conch shell daily for 15 minutes over six months experienced a 34% reduction in daytime sleepiness, 4 to 5 fewer apnea events per hour, improved sleep quality scores, and better blood oxygen levels during sleep, compared to a control group performing deep breathing exercises.
The physiological insights suggest that the acoustic vibrations and airflow resistance created by blowing into the shell may strengthen and tone the upper airway muscles, reducing airway collapsibility—a major factor in obstructive sleep apnea. Small reductions in neck circumference among the conch-blowing group also hint at potential structural benefits to the airway.
The trial used objective measures including overnight polysomnography (the gold standard sleep study), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for daytime sleepiness, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, reinforcing the credibility of the findings.
However, limitations include the small sample size, single-center design in India, open-label setup (participants knew which treatment they were doing), and reliance on self-reported adherence. As such, the results need replication in larger and more diverse populations before broad clinical recommendation.
In addition to the conch shell, other practices have shown promise in improving sleep and reducing OSA symptoms. For instance, playing a wind instrument, such as a didgeridoo, for 4 months daily for 25 minutes can lead to a 30% reduction in apnea severity and decreased daily sleepiness. Regular oropharyngeal exercises, which work by strengthening the throat muscles, can reduce the severity of moderate sleep apnea by 50% (meta-analysis).
Yogic breathing practices, such as Ujjayi and Bhramari, can be used as alternatives to blowing into a seashell for improving sleep apnea symptoms. These practices involve slow inhalation and exhalation through the nose with a slight constriction of the vocal cords, creating a hissing sound in the throat, and slow exhalation through the nose with fingers plugging the ears and a humming sound "Mmm," respectively.
The unique spiral structure of the seashell can produce acoustic effects that further stimulate and tone the muscles of the upper respiratory tract. The seashells used in the study, known as shankhs, are easily available and often sold as souvenirs.
In summary, blowing into a conch shell shows promising, evidence-backed benefits for improving sleep and reducing moderate OSA symptoms by strengthening respiratory muscles and improving airway function. However, more extensive trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings.
The conch shell's acoustic vibrations and airflow resistance, as observed in the study, might contribute to the health-and-wellness improvements such as a reduction in daytime sleepiness by 34%, improvement in blood oxygen levels during sleep, and a decrease in the number of apnea events per hour for individuals with moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The practice, along with other sleep-improving techniques like playing a wind instrument or yogic breathing practices, could be part of therapies-and-treatments for better management of sleep apnea symptoms.
