Ancient spiritual and healing practices increasingly attract the attention of scientists and become new wellness trends. In recent years, there has been a lot of scientific evidence of the benefits of meditation. Another popular practice is sound baths. It has not yet been studied enough but has already gained many followers due to its health benefits.
What Is a Sound Bath?
Sound healing is an ancient healing practice that appeared in the pre-Christian era. In the manuscripts of the Gregorian monks were found references to the “Ascension frequencies”: six tones of solfeggio in a special arrangement. It was believed that these sound frequencies beneficially affect the human organism. These sounds were an important part of the music school of antiquity and then became the basis for Gregorian chants.
In Tibet, China, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, from ancient times, singing bowls were used for religious ceremonies. Now it is a popular tool for meditation, relaxation, yoga, and medical practices related to biorhythms. Music therapy since the 19th century began to be used in psychiatric institutions. During the First and Second World Wars, music was used as an anesthetic during childbirth, dental or surgical operations.
In the 20th century, several schools of music therapy were formed, In many European countries and in the USA music and psychotherapy centers become popular. Nowadays, sound baths have become a popular trend in the USA, a practice in which people immerse in a certain sound frequency. The treatment is conducted by a sound therapist, who either compiles a list of relaxing tracks or plays the necessary sounds using tools.
The Process of Sound Baths
A sound bath can include any number of instruments, including a human voice. It is believed that it is the vibrations of sound waves that have a relaxing and healing effect. In addition, people believe that the new crystal bowls, which appeared in the 1970s and are made from crushed quartz, transmit the healing energies present in this crystal.
Most sound therapists in the United States use Asian and South Asian instruments like gongs and bowls. Indian flutes and African rain sticks are also popular. Taking a sound bath usually goes like this: participants lie down on a yoga mat, close their eyes and relax, and the sound the practitioner plays the instruments. Even if a person falls asleep during such an activity, this will not reduce the beneficial effect, because sound vibrations still penetrate the body.
Is It Possible to Heal People With Sound?
Sound therapists claim that the healing power of sound lies in the “magic frequency of 432 hertz”. It is believed that it has a beneficial effect on the body and charges it with positive energy. It relaxes the body, cleanses the subconscious and activates the natural healing systems of your body. This puts your parasympathetic nervous system in a grip so that your body can relax and heal.
Some adepts of sound baths call such procedures a cure for almost all diseases. For example, The New York Times wrote about Sarah Oster, who claims that she independently cured herself of the paralysis resulting from a spinal fracture using sound therapy. After her story, Oster conducted a massive practice of sound baths at the New York Museum of Modern Art. She was also invited to Google with a lecture on the sound baths topic.
A psychologist researcher and professor at the University of California has studied the effects of sound bath meditation on anxiety and depression. It’s often used during post-operative rehabilitation and to relieve symptoms of PTSR. Scientific work has shown that singing bowls relieve tension, symptoms of depression, anxiety, physical pain and help you cheer up.