Sound Healing
What is sound healing?
Sound healing is the practice of using noises, sounds, or music to improve one’s physical, mental, and/or spiritual well-being.
Historically, sound healing has been used for thousands of years.
It dates as far back as Ancient Egypt, who used musical chanting to heal the sick. In Ancient Greece, physicians often used lyre and flute music to treat mental health, promote sleep, and more. Even Aristotle noted the benefits of using music to promote healing. Some Indigenous Australians have also used the didgeridoo as a healing instrument for tens of thousands of years.
Modern physicians began studying the use of music in healing towards the end of the nineteenth century. Diogel, a physician studying at the Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, was the first to conduct scientific studies on the effects of sound healing. In his 1880 paper, Diogel reported that music lowered the blood pressure of his patients and increased cardiac output.
Sound healing has been shown to reduce tension, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD.
Recent studies corroborate Diogel’s findings. Studies have shown that sound healing can lower participant’s blood pressure levels, although most studies show the most significant effect of sound healing is on participant’s mental health. Sound healing has been shown to reduce tension, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD.
Although scientists have not conclusively determined the cause of the efficacy of sound healing, both scientists and practitioners have proposed several theories. One such theory proposes that sound healing works by shifting a participant’s brainwave state into a calmer state. Another theory suggests that sound healing works by tapping into your body’s vibrations. It suggests that because every living thing is vibrating, the vibrations of sound therapy can interact with your body’s vibrations to create positive results. Other practitioners believe that sound can clear energy blockages or clear and balance a participants’ chakras. Scientific theories suggest that sound therapy positively impacts the body’s autonomic nervous system, responsible for unconscious mechanisms such as digestion, breath, and cardiovascular activity.