Anyone who’s ever used music to hype themselves up or lull them to sleep knows the power of sound. Sound therapy relies on specific tones, frequencies, and vibrations to promote healing and relaxation, using the power of those sounds to do deep healing work. Through the vibrations, our bodies benefit from the sound waves received through the skin. Experts believe both the sound and vibrations have health benefits, making this a unique complementary therapy.
Through the research we currently have about sound therapy, we know it’s beneficial for an enhanced mood. Through sound therapy, our bodies can slip into a state of relaxation that reduces stress and anxiety. As our brains focus on a task — in this case, listening — it relaxes, quieting thoughts and lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
Our brains also receive specific benefits as studies reveal this therapy may help with memory and attention. This can be dependent on the frequencies used and length of exposure, but regular exposure to sound therapy shows a positive impact on our cognition and even motor processing skills.
The benefits don’t end there as pain relief is shown to be a positive impact of sound therapy. Sound baths and other forms of meditation reduce pain through relaxing the body and positively impacting stress hormones that can often contribute to increased pain. Research even shows that chronic pain may be helped through certain vibrations used during these experiences. As our bodies release stress and tension, the pain we’re holding lessens.
This reduction of stress has one other major benefit: improved sleep. If you deal with insomnia, you know how frustrating it can be to try to fall asleep with little success. Sound baths are proven to help through stress relief as it can move our bodies from a ‘fight or flight’ to a ‘rest and digest’ state, lowering cortisol. Through returning to this more neutral state, our sleep (and even digestion) can be greatly improved.
While more studies need to be done to fully understand the scope of this therapy’s benefits, it’s true that a sound bath can have a number of positive effects. Sound therapy offers a low-risk therapeutic approach to healing that works best paired with other modalities and can contribute to a well-rounded, holistic care routine.