Remember how much you enjoyed humming as a child, fascinated by the sounds and vibrations it produced. Remember the joy attached to your sense of wonder that you were creating these sounds. Ask any child to hum their favorite song and they enjoy it so much it's hard to get them to stop. For most adults the fascination with the human body has diminished and we suffer from the body more than we take joy from it. Well, kick the adult worries aside and get humming, it's good for your sinus health.
The
New York Times reported on two new
studies conducted in
Europe that indicated the simple act of humming provided enough stimulation to the sinus cavity to improve its health function. So humming on a regular basis could help prevent a cold from becoming a sinus infection. Scientists discovered that humming caused dramatic increases in the levels of nitric oxide in the sinus cavity than when the breathing was silent. The studies focused on the levels the nitric oxide which its biological function acts to promote the relaxation of smooth muscle and improve blood flow to the area.
Yoga practices have a deep understanding of the subtle effects of chanting on the mind and body but in addition to the rapid exchange of gases which promote relaxation and blood flow of the nasal passages, humming stimulates the hypothalamus gland which regulates the immune system. Thus humming and chanting can help to fight a cold before it even begins.
It's winter and the colds are aplenty, so if you've been too shy to try the Om's in a yoga class, open up and say ahhhhh to the benefits your head will receive unless you prefer the fogginess of a cold. If you already chant Om, try a home practice of 11 rounds of Om to see feel how chanting for longer periods brings you into deeper levels concentration and really opens the lungs, throat, and head. Feel good this season and hum your way to better health.
