Sleep Apnea and Didgeridoos
Sleep Disorder Treatment with Australian Aboriginal Instruments
Australian aboriginal didgeridoo playing can improve moderate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms by strengthening the airways and reducing sleep disturbances.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where the sleeper stops breathing for short periods of time. These pauses in breathing, or apneas, arouse the sleeping brain and disrupt sleep patterns. Sleep apnea treatments include CPAP machines, surgery, dental mouthpieces, and, possibly, the Australian Aborigine didgeridoo.
Hold on—the didgeridoo? One of the world's oldest instruments, the Australian didgeridoo is traditionally made from eucalyptus trunks that have been hollowed by termites. You play a didgeridoo by vibrating your lips against one end of the instrument, using your cheeks to store air for playing.
Didgeridoo and Sleep Disturbance Studies
At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any connection between the aboriginal didgeridoo and sleep apnea treatment. Swiss researchers, however, were intrigued by anecdotal reports of improved sleep and less snoring in didgeridoo players.
25 patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea were selected for the study. The volunteers were split into two groups: a control group and a test group who were given didgeridoo lessons and played the didgeridoo at home.
After four months of regular didgeridoo playing, participants in the test group reported less daytime sleepiness. In comparison to the test group, the didgeridoo group's sleep apnea scores improved significantly.
Bed partners of volunteers were also interviewed. While there was no noticeable change in the control group, bed partners of the didgeridoo playing volunteers reported less sleep disturbances (partner awareness of snoring and other sleep disturbances is often used to help diagnosis sleep apnea).
The authors published their findings in the British Medical Journal. They theorize that the didgeridoo technique of circular breathing may strengthen the upper respiratory airways. Circular breathing involves inhaling through the nose while still playing the didgeridoo with air stored in the cheeks. The ensuing workout increases tone in the upper airways, reducing moderate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
Can CPAPs be Traded for Didgeridoos?
While the results of the Swiss didgeridoo test are intriguing, the authors caution that a didgeridoo is not a substitute for a CPAP machine or other sleep apnea treatments. The study was too small to draw definite conclusions about didgeridoo practice and improved sleep apnea. Future studies, with larger groups of patients are required to confirm the Swiss study's conclusions. In other words, don't trade in the CPAP just yet.
Still, taking up the didgeridoo could well improve your sleep apnea symptoms. Australian didgeridoo playing has no known adverse side effects (unless you or your family can't stand the vibrating sounds made by the didgeridoo).
Didgeridoos are available at both online and offline music stores. A beginner's plastic didgeridoo costs less than fifty dollars. You can pay hundreds of dollars for an authentic Australian aborigine didgeridoo, which is as much a work of aboriginal art as a musical instrument.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
Resources
LA Outback. (n.d.). Suffering from Sleep Apnea? The Didgeridoo Can Help!
Puhan, M. (23 December 2005). Didgeridoo Playing as an Alternative Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.
Science Daily. (24 December 2005). Didgeridoo Playing Improves your Sleep.
Walsh, K. (25 July 2007). Study Says Didgeridoo Can Help with Sleep Apnea.
