Ancient Beliefs About Snoring

March 17, 2025

This eBook from Blue Heron Health News

Back in the spring of 2008, Christian Goodman put together a group of like-minded people – natural researchers who want to help humanity gain optimum health with the help of cures that nature has provided. He gathered people who already know much about natural medicine and setup blueheronhealthnews.com.

Today, Blue Heron Health News provides a variety of remedies for different kinds of illnesses. All of their remedies are natural and safe, so they can be used by anyone regardless of their health condition. Countless articles and eBooks are available on their website from Christian himself and other natural health enthusiasts, such as Julissa Clay , Shelly Manning , Jodi Knapp and Scott Davis.

The Stop Snoring And Sleep Apnea Program™ By Christian Goodman The Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnea Program is a well-researched program created to help stop snoring and sleep apnea so that you can have a good night sleep. The techniques that you will learn from this program works immediately. It will only take you 3-7 minutes to perform these simple exercises that the author has recommended but the results that you will get will help you have a good night sleep as soon as tonight. Within a week, snoring will be a thing of the past.

Ancient Beliefs About Snoring

Ancient cultures perceived and explained snoring differently, typically viewing the condition within the framework of mythology, religion, and the medicine of their time. Some of the perceptions of snoring by ancient cultures are outlined below:

1. Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egyptian times, snoring was sometimes thought to be a sign of spiritual imbalance or a physical condition associated with the gods. Egyptians believed that snoring and other noises were associated with the turmoil of the soul or spirit. However, ancient Egyptian medical treatises, including the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE), suggested that snoring was also a physical issue, based on the closure of the respiratory passages. There was no definite realization of the physiological cause, but it may have considered snoring a symptom of an underlying medical issue or weakness.

2. Ancient Greece
The ancient Greeks were more scientific in their approach to snoring, much as it retained mystical overtones. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, described snoring in his medical writings and mentioned it in his discussion of obstructed breathing. Ancient Greeks felt that snoring was associated with an imbalanced proportion of the humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) in the body. As long as the proportion was out of balance, physical complaints such as snoring would occur. Some of the Greek philosophers were of the view that snoring was a physiological process of the body concerned with sleeping peacefully but did not correlate it with the lethal health risks we understand today.

3. Ancient China
Snoring was generally linked to Qi imbalances in traditional Chinese medicine. Snoring was said to be interrupted by airway obstructions when the flow of Qi across the body was disrupted. Dampness that would accumulate in the body and lead to obstructions or lung deficiency, which would be the function of the lungs during breathing and airflow, were said to produce the disorder. Treatments could be herbs, acupuncture, and dietary adjustment to correct the balance of the body and clear the nasal pathways.

4. Ancient Rome
The Romans also had several reasons for snoring, some of which were founded on superstitions. Snoring could be attributed to excesses—too much food, too much wine, or living high on the hog. Snoring was considered to be a sign of excess or unwholesome living. Pliny the Elder, however, in his “Natural History,” called snoring a natural phenomenon, yet said that it can be an indication of poor health or that someone was not sleeping healthily.

5. Norse Mythology
In Norse culture, snoring was sometimes seen as an indication of an earthly connection between the person and the gods. Snoring was believed to occur when people slept too intensely, possibly signifying the departure or connection of the soul to the underworld. Snoring was also associated with a lack of energy or strength, sometimes implying that the individual could not fight off evil spirits or ghosts responsible for controlling their sleep.

6. Medieval Europe
During medieval Europe, snoring was typically blamed on evil air or the devil. Medieval physicians were of the view that snoring occurred because of unclean air entering the body or due to a devil possessing a person. The condition could also be seen as a sign of indigestion or gluttony, as it was often linked with those who indulged in excess eating prior to bedtime. This was also a period when people believed nighttime to be particularly vulnerable to supernatural interference, so snoring could be assumed to be demonic possession or spiritual affliction.

7. The Middle East and Islamic Medicine
In the Middle East, snoring was observed by the early Islamic physicians and scholars such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina). They associated snoring with obstruction of airways and attributed it as a probable indicator of hidden respiratory disease. Like other ancient cultures, they also attributed a number of physical and emotional unbalances to snoring’s existence, although to a wider degree in association with diet, sleep position, and posture as causes.

8. Native American Cultures
In many Native American cultures, snoring could be viewed as an indication of the individual’s alignment with the spirit world or the earth. In some tribes, snoring was believed to signify a lack of mastery over one’s inner forces, while others may have viewed snoring as a message from the spirit world, either through the dreams or as a call that something in the individual’s life required attention or balance.

General Beliefs and Cultural Perspectives
In most ancient cultures, snoring was widely perceived as a mysterious or otherworldly phenomenon. It was generally assumed to be connected to deeper spiritual or physical imbalances, which suggested that the individual could be out of balance with natural forces. While others believed it to be an indicator of excess or illness, some felt it was merely a natural effect of deep sleep.

Modern scientific research has confirmed that snoring is primarily a result of tissue vibration in the throat when the airway is being partially blocked during sleep. Ancient beliefs, however, illustrate how cultures had a tendency to synthesize their understanding of the human body with their mystical, spiritual, and cultural views.
The history of the development of sleep medicine has been one of gradual progress over a period of some centuries, with significant advances in the 20th century and the 21st century. Sleep medicine came to be based on rudimentary observations and treatments and developed into a high-tech, evidence-based discipline for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of sleep disorders. Below is an overview of how sleep medicine has evolved over the years:

1. Ancient and Early Conceptualizations (Before the 20th Century)
Ancient Civilizations: Sleep was often regarded as a mysterious and divine process. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans believed that sleep had both physical and spiritual significance. They saw dreams as messages from the gods and used various rituals and treatments (herbs, prayers, rituals) to improve sleep quality.
Hippocrates and Sleep: Hippocrates, who is credited as the founder of medicine, had described sleep as a healing process by nature through which the body was rejuvenated. However, most of what was known of sleep during antiquity was purely speculative and built on religious and philosophical principles rather than on the science of medicine.
2. The Emergence of Scientific Knowledge (17th-19th Century)
Scientific Origins: In the 17th and 18th centuries, initial scientists like René Descartes and Sir Thomas Willis began to question and examine sleep from a physiological perspective. Descartes, for example, proposed that the pineal gland was responsible for sleep.
Sleep as a Physiological Phenomenon: In the 19th century, continued research into the brain and the nervous system began to uncover the fact that sleep was not only an unconscious state but a complex biological process. The development of the microscope allowed scientists to observe the function of the brain in sleep, and scientists like Claude Bernard were investigating how the brain regulated sleeping behaviors.
3. Early 20th Century: Foundations of Sleep Research
The Discovery of REM Sleep (1950s): The most dramatic milestone in the development of sleep medicine came in the 1950s with the discovery of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Dr. Eugene Aserinsky and Dr. Nathaniel Kleitman used electroencephalograms (EEGs) to track the electrical activity of the brain during sleep, demonstrating that the brain was extremely active during sleep and not all sleep was the same. This discovery led to the identification of sleep stages (non-REM and REM).
Sleep Stages: Later, scientists like Aserinsky and Kleitman discovered individual stages of sleep based on brain wave patterns. Non-REM sleep was delineated into stages 1, 2, and 3, and REM sleep represented an entire distinct, active phase of sleep. It was this realization which served as the foundation for studies on the functions of different stages of sleep.
4. Mid 20th Century: The Emergence of Sleep Medicine as a Disciplinary Entity
Sleep Disorders and Clinical Observation: The mid-20th century was the era in which scientists and doctors devoted special attention to sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnias (night terrors, sleep walking, etc.). This led to the establishment of sleep clinics and scientific studies into what causes and effects of bad sleeping.
The Epidemic of Sleep Disorders: By the 1960s, sleep disorders were no longer seen as mere annoyances, with medical specialists recognizing their association with other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. This stimulated further research on the treatment of sleep disorders.
5. Late 20th Century: Formalization of Sleep Medicine
Sleep Centers: The first sleep centers were established in the 1970s, providing a specialized setting to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. The sleep centers utilized diagnostic tools like polysomnography, which monitors brain waves, heart rate, respiratory effort, and other physiological measures during sleep.
Sleep Apnea Awareness: Identification of sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), was a prominent concern during the late 20th century. Dr. William C. Dement and Dr. Christian Guilleminault were at the forefront of sleep apnea research, resulting in the common knowledge and diagnosis of sleep apnea. The invention of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy in the 1980s gave patients an effective solution for sleep apnea, changing treatment for millions of patients.
Sleep Medications: In the 1980s and 1990s, the development of sleep aids like benzodiazepines and later non-benzodiazepine sleep medications (e.g., zolpidem) helped address insomnia and other sleep disturbances. However, these medications raised concerns about dependency and side effects, prompting the search for safer, more effective treatments.
6. 21st Century: The Modern Era of Sleep Medicine
Genetic and Neurological Advances: Current research in sleep medicine has branched out to neurobiology and genetics, shedding light on the role of particular neurotransmitters and genes involved in regulating sleep. This has ushered in the hope of tailored treatments guided by a patient’s genetic makeup.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): CBT-I is the new gold standard for the treatment of chronic insomnia. CBT-I is a medication-free, evidence-based treatment that helps patients recognize and change negative thoughts and behaviors that create sleep problems.
Technological innovations: Wearable technology and intelligent home systems have transformed the management and monitoring of sleep. Fitness trackers and smartwatches are now tracking sleep, and software is available for leading relaxation practices or providing data on sleep to doctors.
Comorbidities and Sleep Disorders: Modern sleep medicine recognizes the strong interdependency between sleep and health, pointing to the overlap of sleep disorders and chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric disorders. Integration of sleep medicine with other specialties has become imperative for global patient care.
Telemedicine: The use of telemedicine in sleep medicine has also increased, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote sleep testing (e.g., home sleep apnea testing) and telemedicine visits have made access easier for patients, allowing for ease of receiving care.
7. The Future of Sleep Medicine
The future of sleep medicine holds much in terms of improved artificial intelligence (AI), precision treatments, and continuing research regarding the role of sleep in the health of brains, aging, and neurodegenerative disease. Sleep scientists are increasingly examining the impact that the microbiome has on sleep, gene therapy potential, and even light therapy to improve quality of sleep.
Briefly, sleep medicine has grown from such unscientific belief and herbal treatments of yesteryears to a complex, multidisciplinary science grounded in scientific evidence. Sleep medicine is today a core area of healthcare that not only treats sleep disorders, their diagnosis, but also healthy sleep for overall well-being.


The Stop Snoring And Sleep Apnea Program™ By Christian Goodman The Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnea Program is a well-researched program created to help stop snoring and sleep apnea so that you can have a good night sleep. The techniques that you will learn from this program works immediately. It will only take you 3-7 minutes to perform these simple exercises that the author has recommended but the results that you will get will help you have a good night sleep as soon as tonight. Within a week, snoring will be a thing of the past.

This eBook from Blue Heron Health News

Back in the spring of 2008, Christian Goodman put together a group of like-minded people – natural researchers who want to help humanity gain optimum health with the help of cures that nature has provided. He gathered people who already know much about natural medicine and setup blueheronhealthnews.com.

Today, Blue Heron Health News provides a variety of remedies for different kinds of illnesses. All of their remedies are natural and safe, so they can be used by anyone regardless of their health condition. Countless articles and eBooks are available on their website from Christian himself and other natural health enthusiasts, such as Julissa Clay , Shelly Manning , Jodi Knapp and Scott Davis.