Didge Your Way To A Good Night's Sleep - Why I want to learn to play the Didgeridoo

Sounds weird? Well, maybe not! A medical journal published a paper several years ago documenting the benefits of didgeridoo playing in managing certain sleep disorders!

I have a family history of sleep apnoea (American: apnea). People with this condition tend to snore, and their airways get blocked when they are in deep sleep. When the airway gets blocked, the body wakes itself up. Usually the sleeper isn't aware of this. Nevertheless it results in interrupted sleep and tiredness throughout the day. Treatment for sleep apnoea can range from operations (which may provide only temporary relief, and are very expensive) or some other expensive sleep equipment, none of which I can afford.

Welcome to Didgeridoo playing! Here's an excerpt from an article in ABC News Online dated 23 Dec 2005:

Researchers in Switzerland have examined 25 patients who suffered from snoring and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, both common sleep disorders.

Half the group were given daily lessons in playing the didgeridoo.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal's online edition, found those who played the wind instrument over a four-month trial period saw a significant improvement in their daytime sleepiness and apnoea.

Their partners also reported less disturbance from snoring.

The researchers said training the upper airways through the breathing techniques required to play the didgeridoo was behind the improvement.

Here's the link to the article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1537218.htm

An operation or one of those sleep machines could cost thousands of dollars. Didgeridoo lessons are about $30 and hour. Learn for a month (at $120) and you can practice circular breathing on your own after that. You do the math.

And oh, did I mention you get to learn a new musical instrument along the way?