What Is Sound Therapy, Its Types and Effects on Body Functions

ABSTRACT

This is to be noted from a long time that particular sounds directly affect our body’s ability for healing from different disharmonious issues, states or diseases. From imbalance related to anxiety, various nervous disorders, Cancer, recent research shows how various sounds affect a person on cellular levels and provides physiological, broad results. Possibilities show very beneficial effects which includes listening, toning, music, chanting, humming and providing one’s observation towards the various instrumental sounds. In this article we are going to discuss what sound therapy is and how it is effective for healing various health issues.

WHAT IS SOUND THERAPY?

Sound Therapy refers to a broad range of therapies in which various types of sounds are used that treat physical as well as mental conditions. One of such Sound Therapy is Music Therapy, in which a person listens to music for various conditions like muscle tension, stress, etc. Music is one such component of this therapy, sound vibrations are mainly used in Sound therapy to manage various physical as well as mental conditions. Sound waves in sound therapy are used to restore the healthy balance in the body. These healing waves are transmitted by a voice or any instrument like electronic equipment, tuning forks or chanting bowls.

TYPES OF SOUND THERAPY

Following are some types of Sound Therapy

Tibetan Singing Bowls

These bowls are also known as standing bells. Besides being used as a musical instrument these bowls are for religious practices such as chanting and meditation. The most interesting feature of these bowls is for sound healing therapy. These bowls are also used for restoring normal vibrational frequencies of the body due to its broad range of sounds produced by these bowls.

Gong Bath

Gong bath is also known as sound bath that is one of the Asian sound healing techniques of ancient times. This technique produces vibration of water in the overall body and provides well-being. This technique is known as sound bath as the person will be going to take a bath in the sound waves. This therapy is good for those patients who don’t feel comfortable to be touched. The sound created with the gong bath creates a wide range of vibrations. These vibrations bring the whole self into conformity.

Tuning Fork

The usage of tuning fork is to check whether the musical instrument is in tune or not. But nobody thought that they could also be used for healing purposes. This tuning fork was firstly used by orthopaedics to examine the stress fractures in the large bones. After this the sound therapists start using tuning forks to increase the amount of energy in the body parts by its vibrations and make them heal. These vibrations also help to provide relaxation, increasing physical energy and balancing the nervous system.

Om chanting

Most of us know what chanting is, the most popular one is Gregorian Chant. When you listen to the Chanting you definitely feel that you are in a different universe. Beside this if we talk about Om Chanting, it’s somehow different. This is basically a mantra that is practiced before starting and after finishing the yoga session. Various researches show that Chanting can lower blood pressure, stabilize the heart rate, improves circulation, aids metabolism process and it also helps in alleviating stress levels.

Classical Music

There is something behind why the musicians have great space in people’s hearts especially the classical musicians. When we listen to Classical music, it helps in enhancing creativity and learning, in child development and pregnancy. This is also considered as a great tool used for Sound therapy. Research shows that Classical Music also helps in alleviating physical ailments such as muscle tension and high blood pressure. For this there is one term used that is Music Therapy which is most commonly used Sound healing technique nowadays to help patients with various ailments, physical as well as mental.

Humming

Humming is a reaction whenever we feel happy. It is a sound produced by lips close, emerging sound from nose with wordless tone. This sound is generally very simple but it reflects the emotions according to the situation. The wonderful thing is everybody has the capability to produce Humming Sound. Do you even think this simple activity can even heal you? The research shows that this Humming sound helps in reducing stress, promoting calmness, enhancing sleep and even boost the levels of Oxytocin in the Brain which makes us happy.

Kirtan

The Kirtan practice is also used for Sound Therapy. Kirtan is a type of music which can narrate the story, recites, then tells the idea of Story. In this practice the leader first sings the Mantra then the audience recites the same. In this rhythm the audience connects with each and everyone. Kritan promotes the ability of meditation, making you learn to receive and give, after this a person will develop inner healing.

EFFECTS OF SOUND THERAPY ON BODY HEALING

In today’s era of stress, frustration and anxiety this is difficult to get a gap from pressure of day to day activities. There is one such way with which we can make a positive change in our life and relieve stress from life, that is Sound Therapy. In the way our body reacts to various vibrations and sounds, it produces a positive impact on our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Following are the benefits of Sound Therapy

• Relieves Stress
• Boost confidence
• Fewer headaches
• Gives more focus
• Improved relationships
• Provides more energy
• Makes you think more clearly
• Improves the attention span
• Improves organization skills
• Provides relief from common ailments

AYURVEDIC APPROACH OF SOUND THERAPY

Everyone has a distinctive connection with music. Most of the people experience different effects on the music body and mind daily. We all are musicians that can connect our life and spirit with rhythms, but only we ourselves can find out which kind of music resonates with us. Ayurveda, A holistic science believes that we can choose music according to our type that can make us achieve a well balanced state of wellbeing. The body type as per Ayurveda depends upon the dosha which is predominately governing your psychological and physiological functions. First step in finding the right music according to your body type is to evaluate dosha which is predominant in your body. After finding the dosha and the type of your body then only you can compose, play and enjoy the music.

For Vata type of people

For vata type of person or someone with vata imbalance must listen to music with low, soft and mellow tones. Also includes listening to the musical instruments like mandolin, guitar, cello, bass and wind instruments like didgeridoo and chimes. Harmonium is also very meditative and healing for Vata type of people and also these people can learn to play Himalayan Singing Bowls that are also very calm and soothing.

For Pitta type of people

Pitta type of people must listen to the music with soft, mid-range and rhythmic music. The congenial types of musical instruments that balance pitta dosha are dulcimer, violin and mandolin. So for pitta type of people it is a must to listen to music with soothing and gentle percussion.

For Kapha type of people

These people can listen to the music with higher tones and energy with a solid baseline. Dholak, tabla and all types of drums like water drums and african conga as well as chimes, bells, accordion, Incan panpipes, piano, electric keyboard are all considerable instruments for kapha type of person to play and learn.

CONCLUSION

Sound Therapy refers to a broad range of therapies in which various types of sounds are used that treat physical as well as mental conditions. There are various types of sound therapies which include Tibetan singing bowls, kirtan, humming, classical music, om chanting, gong bath, etc. All these sound therapies help in managing various kinds of disorders like stress, headaches, depression, etc. Also sound therapy has a great impact on our body like it assists in boosting confidence, improves attention span, organization skills, provides more energy and many more positive impacts. According to Ayurveda it is a must to listen or play music according to your body type as explained in this article. So we advise you to heal yourself with the help of Sound therapy and make music as part of your daily life for making your life better.