Have you ever heard of sound healing?

You may be thinking, how on earth would sound be able to heal our bodies? Sound is used to influence and boost morale in our everyday lives – this is because humans have a natural instinct for sound therapy… just think about how music can change your mood!

Well, sound is all around us, and inside of us too! Everything is a vibration, including ourselves. This means that we are constantly absorbing and emitting different frequencies around us. Given that everything has a vibrational frequency, it makes sense that sound can affect how we feel and bring out all kinds of emotions in us.

One of the most fundamental forms of vibration is sound. Which is why sound healing uses different kinds of vibrations to help us reach a meditative frequency.

Ancient origins of sound healing

Sound healing is by no means a new age wellness practice – this form of therapy is an ancient modality that uses various tonal implements to create healing vibrations around the body in a meditative state. Sounds are tuned at strategic frequencies for healing different parts of the body and mind.

Sound has been used as a healing tool for thousands of years – dating from the ancient Greeks to Native Americans to Shamans. It is said that the very first practices of sound healing can be traced back to 40,000 years ago when indigenous Australians used ancient didgeridoos, a wind instrument in the form of a long wooden tube which produces deep resonant sounds, to heal the body from broken bones, muscle tears, and various illnesses.

Sound healing is prevalent in every culture. Ancient Egyptians created sound chambers in the pyramids for healing, ancient Greeks used music to help cure mental disorders, ancient Chinese peoples used mantras, chants, and sounds to stimulate specific organ systems in the body, and ancient Tibetans used singing bowls for healing – which are still used today.

Sound healing has increasingly gained recognition as one of the oldest and most profound methods of gentle healing that exists.

How does sound healing work?

Sound healing can actually take on many different forms. Music and vocal sounds are very intuitive, which make them popular choices. However, many practitioners prefer to use more traditional instruments like tuning forks, gongs, and singing bowls – this is because they can work faster to achieve a healing effect.

The vibrations of sound actually alter our brain waves through synchronizing them to achieve profound states of relaxation, which essentially shift energy channels in our bodies and help restore the vibratory frequencies of our cells. The human body is made up of 75% water, which happens to be a great conductor for sound vibration. When sound vibrations travel through the body, they stimulate circulation, energy flow, and rejuvenation. This is why the use of sound is an effective and proven method in bringing the body to a restorative and healing state.

“To make sound is to heal.” – Gong Master Martha Collard

Sound has the ability to impact us so profoundly because the rhythmic patterns that create vibrations connect to our sympathetic nervous system by blending our brain waves in with the vibrations of the bowls. These vibrations help us relax our mind and body, allowing us to slow down our respiration, heart rate, and interrupt the pain reflex, which creates a deep sense of well-being.

So, how does it work? Sound healing sessions are referred to as sound baths, in which you will usually get cozy and lie down on the floor or a yoga mat with blankets and simply listen to the sounds played by the practitioner, falling into a meditative trance-like state. A variety of instruments will be played, typically singing bowls, gongs, Tibetian bowls, and tuning forks, and you will “bathe” in the soothing vibrations – which activate the body’s system of self-healing.

What are the benefits of sound healing?

Sound healing has the ability to help reduce stress levels, alter consciousness, and develop a deep sense of peace and wellbeing.

One of the greatest benefits of sound healing is how it can help clear any energy blockages you may be feeling, promoting healing on a physical and mental level. Sound healing has been shown to help alleviate the effects of conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, and dementia.

Some of the benefits of sound healing include:

• Lower stress levels
• Fewer mood swings
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved sleep
• Greater mental clarity
• Lower cholesterol

Sound healing allows for a state of ease and harmony to exist in the body. Tonal vibrations can change the direction of frequencies from low energy of guilt, pain, and fear to higher vibrations of love, light, and peace.

It supports mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Once your healing session has finished, you may experience feelings of tranquility and be able to feel the effects of the treatment for many days after. Sound healing balances and clears the mind, and leads to a renewed sense of purpose and happiness.

Megan Binder

(B.A. Psychology)

References

Bhaumik, G. (2021, August 2). Sound healing explained – how it works and health benefits. Destination Deluxe. https://destinationdeluxe.com/sound-healing-health-benefits/.

Clement, S. (2020, February 28). Origins and research on sound healing. Gaia Meditation. https://www.gaiameditation.com/sound-healing-research/origins-sound-healing/.

Estrada, J. (2020, March 25). 3 ways to bring your Body Vibrational balance using SOUND healing therapy. Well+Good. https://www.wellandgood.com/sound-healing/.

Sound Energy Healing. Sound energy healing. (n.d.). https://www.fire2fusion.com/sound-energy/sound-energy-healing.html.

What is sound healing? Sound has the ability to heal our mind and body. WellSet. (n.d.). https://www.wellset.co/glossary/what-is-sound-healing#:~:text=Sound%20healing%20is%20an%20ancient,of%20the%20body%20and%20mind.