Use of Shatkriyas for Immunity Booster against Respiratory Allergies in College Students: An Investigational Study

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of respiratory health and immunity, as weakened immune responses and rising pollution left young adults increasingly vulnerable to respiratory disorders, including allergies. Yogic purification techniques (Shatkriyas), such as Sutra Neti, Jal Neti, Kunjal Kriya, and Kapalbhati Pranayama, described in classical yogic texts, are traditionally used to cleanse the respiratory tract and enhance immune resilience. Inspired by the need for preventive, low-cost strategies emphasized during COVID-19, the present study evaluated the impact of selected Shatkriyas on respiratory allergy indicators in college students. A total of 60 students were assessed using the validated Respiratory Allergy Prediction (RAP) test before and after a structured three-month Shatkriya intervention program conducted under expert supervision. Pre- and post-intervention scores were compared using paired-sample t-tests and between-group analyses. Results revealed a statistically significant reduction in RAP scores in both groups: Meerut College (15.33 ± 2.62 → 9.13 ± 2.37; t = 11.64, p < 0.001, dz = −2.13) and D.N. College (16.40 ± 2.25 → 10.30 ± 2.47; t = 8.51, p < 0.001, dz = −1.55). The overall mean reduction was −6.15 points (95% CI: −7.04, −5.26; p < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two institutions (Welch’s t = −0.11, p = 0.91). These findings demonstrate that regular Shatkriya practice produces large and clinically meaningful improvements in respiratory health and immunity among college students. The study underscores the relevance of integrating yoga-based respiratory cleansing techniques into higher education as a preventive, sustainable, and non-pharmacological approach for reducing allergy burden and strengthening resilience against future respiratory challenges.