Health Giving Properties of the Didgeridoo

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Playing the didgeridoo can be very beneficial to the health. Lung capacity and efficiency can be improved, while great benefits can be gained from the revitalizing effects that circular breathing has. Asthmatics in particular are significantly benefited by the health giving properties of circular breathing when playing the didgeridoo. The energy boost and revitalization resulting from ten or twenty minutes of playing can be experienced by anyone and is especially noticeable when the player has been feeling lethargic or tired from too much or too little activity.

 

Extra breathing and lung activity increases the oxygen supplied to the body, similar in effect to exercise. The sharp breaths through the nostrils act to clear out the nasal cavities, thus eliminating excess toxin-carrying mucous. During the creation of rhythms your diaphragm muscles are actively used and exercised. Also, this active use of the diaphragm muscle aids in toning up the stomach externally. 

Didgeridoo playing also has the ability to reduce stress levels and elevate the mood giving a sense of well-being and achievement, as mastery of this unique instrument is achieved.

 

The Didgeridoo Linked to Sleep Apnoea and Snoring Cure.

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The time has finally come for the didjeridoo to become a more widely accepted treatment. The emergence of research, linking the didgeridoo to sleep apnoea and snoring cures, has made this instrument a viable way of addressing these complex issues. 

 

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are two highly prevalent sleep disorders caused by collapse of the upper airways. This results in the sufferer gasping for breath, snoring loudly, snorting and constantly waking up. Daytime sleepiness, an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure are all associated with this condition, as are the rising costs created in the workforce.There are numerous reports of didgeridoo players experiencing reduced daytime sleepiness and snoring after practising Regular playing of the didgeridoo reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and also improves the sleep quality of partners. Severity of disease, expressed by the apnoea-hypopnoea index, is also substantially reduced after four months of didgeridoo playing.

 

The didgeridoo, a musical instrument that is versatile, functional, easy to learn and unique in ways unseen in other musical instruments across the world.

 

During the past decades the didgeridoo has become a worldwide phenomenon. Any visitor to Australian shores cannot avoid them and there are almost an infinite number of different shapes, colours, types and sizes available. The trend has been catching on internationally too, but mainly in the tourism and souvenir sectors only. Now, with the emergence of this new research, the didgeridoo is likely to be taken seriously by a whole new and much larger demographic, looking to benefit from the health giving properties it offers.

 

 Playing has long been known to possess ability to reduce stress levels and elevate the mood, giving a sense of wellbeing and vitality. Circular breathing is one of the key factors that achieve this. Vibration of the lips (a sensitive area for nerve endings), the audible effect of the soundwaves and also their physical effect, are further contributors to the instrument's ability to de-stress and revitalise the player. The energy boost and revitalization resulting from ten or twenty minutes of playing can be experienced by anyone and is especially noticeable when the player has been feeling lethargic or tired from little or too much activity. Some of the physiological effects include increased lung capacity and efficiency (up to double in some cases), oxygenation of the body and brain, and the elimination of excess toxin-carrying mucous.

 

The extra breathing and lung activity that occurs during playing because of circular breathing increases oxygen supply to the body and helps to expel mucus build up in the lungs (similar to the effect of exercise). Sharp breaths through the nostrils act to clear out the nasal cavities, thus eliminating excess toxin-carrying mucous. During the creation of rhythms, the player's diaphragm muscles are actively used and exercised. Furthermore, active use of the diaphragm muscle aids in toning up the stomach externally. Asthmatics and smokers in particular are significantly benefited by the health-giving properties of circular breathing.

 

"There exists no other musical instrument which so closely relies on nature to create its unique sound characteristics."

 

The didgeridoo is also very easy to learn to play, and the sense of achievement gained as one learns is another positive, healthy factor-a positive mental outlook and attitude has great power to keep the immune system active and therefore prevent illness.

 

Contrary to popular myths, the basics of playing a didgeridoo are extremely easy to pick up. Within any area of learning, imagination, time, energy and money are usually the only limitations to a lifetime of learning, and with the didgeridoo it only takes 3 half hour didge lessons* for the foundations of competence to be laid down.

 

Once the basics of didge playing have been learnt, (such as getting the drone note and learning to circular breathe), the musician is able to let their natural rhythm kick in and their imagination go. The incredible versatility of the didgeridoo means it can be played with almost any style of music and can be varied to suit many different instruments within those styles.

 

Playing the didgeridoo can be a great alternative to drugs, not only for sleep disorders, but also in the areas of respiration, vitality and mental attitude just to name a few.

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Note: I wish I could claim this as my composition, but was clipped and saved for its wisdom. If I could give credit to whatever individual wrote this, I would. Thanks.

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