Sound therapy is a holistic healing practice using sound, music and specialist instruments played in therapeutic ways, combined with deep self-reflection techniques to improve health and well-being.

What makes sound therapy effective?

Sound impacts our physiology. Think about it. Certain sounds in our environment tend to evoke anxiety, like the sound of a slamming door, while the sounds of ocean waves or gentle chimes soothe. Research shows that sounds consist of vibrations that affect us on a cellular level, impacting brain, nerve, muscle, and organ function. Our reactions to sound involve neural, physiological, and biochemical reactions within the body, as our minds and bodies sync to the vibrations of the sound. Sound healing aims to channel the power of sound vibrations for relaxation and healing. 

A 2020 review (Goldsby T., Goldsby M., 2020) shows that sound therapy can significantly alter brain waves, changing agitated wave patterns - beta waves - which are linked to high levels of anxiety, anger, and irritability, to slower, exceptionally calmer wave forms - theta and delta waves. As our brain waves slow down, we shift from an active state to a more relaxed, dreamlike state.

In this state, our breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure decrease. This helps our immune system function more efficiently, reduces our stress hormones, and triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. Feel-good chemicals, also known as happy hormones, are neurotransmitters released in the brain that contribute to positive emotions and well-being. They include dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.

Research demonstrates that sound healing can help us with:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Stress

• Fatigue

• Chronic pain

• Cognition and memory

• Overall mental and spiritual well-being

Sound therapy is also a form of self-care. A sound bath is a great way to relax, decompress, and focus on deep listening, enhancing our ability to connect to the present moment.