Sound For Healing – How Sound Can Enhance Well-Being
Sound is a powerful tool for healing and can be used for everything from calming the mind to promoting deep relaxation and even physical wellness. Many cultures around the world have used music and singing to heal since ancient times. For example, ancient Egyptians believed musical incantations were an effective treatment for illness. Native American tribes also used music to promote emotional and physical well-being through the practice of nada yoga. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who discovered harmonic relationships between mathematical ratios and different musical chords, was a strong believer in using music as medicine.
Sound therapy has recently gained popularity in the form of sound baths, which are relaxing and meditative experiences that utilize vibrations from instruments like gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls and chimes. These instruments produce a rich, resonant and deeply soothing sounds that have been shown to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and encourage the body to move into a parasympathetic state. Whether the session is at a wellness spa, yoga studio or at home, the goal of sound healing is to stimulate the brain and nervous system into a deep state of relaxation where healing can take place.
We all know that certain frequencies can boost dopamine, which is a feel-good neurotransmitter. When this happens, we feel happy and motivated. But did you know that there are also sounds that can lower our dopamine levels? That’s why it’s important to be intentional about the sounds you listen to throughout the day.
For instance, when you hear a loud noise from a construction site it can make you feel anxious and on edge while a soft rain sound can evoke feelings of relaxation and peace. This is because our mood is affected by the vibrations we are exposed to on a daily basis. Often, we are surrounded by low-vibration frequencies that can have negative effects on our health.
However, there are also high-vibration frequencies that can encourage feeling happy and energizing. These frequencies can be found in nature, live music, and recorded songs that can help boost energy and reduce anxiety.
The science behind this is called resonance and entrainment. A basic principle is that objects vibrate at certain frequencies and if another object with the same frequency approaches it will start to vibrate too. This is called resonance and is how a gong can cause the water in a glass to ripple or create patterns as it is struck with a mallet. This same principle is how sound healing works on the cellular level.
When a tuning fork is hit it produces a high pitched tone and can be held against the skin to send vibrations into the body. These can release energetic blocks, open blocked energy channels and improve the body’s receptiveness to other healing modalities like herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage or chiropractic. It is also thought that sound can be helpful in relieving chronic pain and balancing the endocrine system. Although it is unlikely to shrink tumors or reverse autoimmune diseases, there is enough scientific evidence that shows that specific frequencies can affect our physiology and even change our DNA. Sound for healing