BIOACOUSTICS YOGA THERAPY FOR ASTHMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF OM CHANTING YOGIC SOUND-BREATHING INTERVENTIONS IN ADULT ASTHMA

Abstract

Background: Asthma remains a significant global health challenge affecting approximately 339 million people worldwide, with prevalence continuing to rise in many regions [1]. Despite advances in pharmacological management, many patients continue to experience suboptimal symptom control, reduced quality of life, and medication-related side effects [2]. This has prompted increasing interest in complementary approaches, including mind-body interventions such as yoga, to supplement conventional asthma management [3].

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and specialized complementary medicine databases for studies published between the year 2000 and 2025. Studies were included if they examined OM chanting or other yogic sound-breathing techniques in adults with clinically diagnosed asthma The search strategy combined terms related to asthma (asthma, bronchial asthma, allergic asthma), yogic practices (yoga, pranayama, yogic breathing), sound interventions (OM chanting, mantra, sound therapy, bioacoustics), and relevant outcomes (pulmonary function, respiratory parameters, quality of life). Exclusion criteria included paediatric studies, non-sound-based interventions, and case reports with fewer than 10 participants.

Results: Multiple studies demonstrate significant improvements in respiratory function following yogic sound-breathing interventions. Research shows FEV1 increased by 20.67% and PEFR by 13.35% after breathing exercise interventions [5], with other studies reporting FEV1 improvements from 2.492 ± 0.358 L to 2.745 ± 0.343 L and PEFR from 283.82 ± 51.12 L/min to 336.23 ± 51.47 L/min following 3-month interventions [4]. OM chanting specifically enhanced respiratory muscle endurance by 18.4% and elevated PEFR from 287±42 to 340±38 L/min after 8 weeks of daily 5-minute practice [41]. Integrated yoga programs incorporating OM demonstrated superior outcomes, including 14.2% improvement in TLCO measurements [6] and significant improvements in all pulmonary function indicators (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR) compared to controls [6,42].

The therapeutic mechanisms involve multiple pathways. The 125-150 Hz vibrational frequency of OM corresponds to optimal ranges for airway smooth muscle relaxation through mechanotransduction effects [19,20] and enhanced mucociliary clearance [18]. Biochemically, these interventions reduce pro-inflammatory markers (32% decrease in IL-6, 28% in TNF-α) [7] and modulate autonomic function (39.2% increase in parasympathetic activity) [27] through vagal stimulation [32]. Clinically, this translates to reduced rescue medication use [51], improved quality of life scores [52], and fewer exacerbations [51], with additional benefits including 41.3% anxiety reduction [45,46] and comparable efficacy to Bhramari pranayama in improving FEV1 (8.2%) and PEFR (11.3%) [49]. These multimodal effects position OM chanting as a viable adjunct in asthma management protocols.

Conclusions: Bioacoustic yoga interventions featuring OM chanting show promising results for asthma management through multiple physiological mechanisms, including bronchodilation, reduced airway inflammation, autonomic nervous system modulation, and psychological benefits. The evidence suggests these interventions could serve as effective complementary approaches alongside conventional asthma management. Future research should address methodological limitations and investigate optimal acoustic parameters for maximum therapeutic benefit.