Posted on 12/22/2005 9:24:19 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON (Reuters) - Kept awake at night by a snoring partner? The answer to your woes could lie -- believe it or not -- with the Australian didgeridoo.
Researchers in Switzerland examined 25 patients who suffered from snoring and moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, both common sleep disorders.
Half the group were given daily lessons in playing the didgeridoo, a wind instrument about 1.5 meters (yards) long which originated in northern Australia and is traditionally made from the trunk of a tree hollowed out by termites.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal's online edition on Friday, found that those who played the unusual instrument over a four-month trial period saw a significant improvement in their daytime sleepiness and apnea.
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.
"Our results may give hope to many people with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and snoring, as well as their partners," the report's authors said.
"It is always fun to bring Desi into a thread..."
LOL! Yes it is. This is truly multiculturalism at its best.
I'll take the snoring... LOL.
Christmas vacation started yet?
You can get 'em at the Folk Shop in Tucson. Not too hard to make either.
Smacking your snoring spouse upside the head with a didgeradoo while she is asleep does sound effective.
Thanks for the info Toad, I'll check them out.
Effective but at what cost? ; )
A week ago.
Have a wonderful Christmas, Jay.
Try Googling "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris.
Classic oldie hit which mentions the didgeredoo...
He wobbles a washboard to provide the rhythm.
Cheers, and Merry Christmas to ALL!
P.S. Are all those cats yours? Do you keep them?
No, I found the photo on one of the crevo threads. The resemblance to my name was so striking, I had to "borrow" the photo.
Full Disclosure: I did choose "Grey_Whiskers" in honor of my cat, though. :-)
Cheers!
Whew! I feel better now. I love cats, but I thought they were just a bit too many, lol.
I think you will find this is from the annual HUMOR issue of the BMJ and that no such study actually deprived volunteers of a safe and effective treatment (cpap) for four months while they played a didgeridoo!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.