Sound Healing
With contributions and images from Sound Healing Therapist, Simon Heather
Sound Healing practitioners use different sound vibrations and frequencies to influence their client’s emotions; breathing and heart rate are slowed down, and the person is invariably left feeling calm and relaxed.
It is also believed that imbalances in the vibrations of cells and organs (thought to be a symptom of disease) can be treated with sound waves.
Here is some general information on what to expect when you visit a therapist, as well as explaining briefly how the discipline works. It must be noted, however, that every therapist works in an individual way, and may subscribe to slightly different theories as to how the practice is carried out. It is always advisable that you ask to see relevant qualifications and discuss the treatment offered to you by the practitioner if you are in any doubt whatsoever.
What is Sound Healing?
Sound healing is the therapeutic use of sound and music for healing.
Sound healing is seen to be a natural way to treat pain and illness. Recent scientific research into sound healing has shown that certain sound frequencies help to heal the body and speed up its natural healing processes. What we hear as sounds are, in reality, waves of pressure that are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.
The theory of sound healing works along the lines that all cells and organs vibrate at a certain frequency and that these frequencies are constant in a healthy body.
Frequencies that are not constant are seen to be symptomatic of an imbalance or disease.
It is believed that sound is carried to the organs via the autonomic nervous system, the system that regulates the organs and bodily functions. Sound is, therefore, used to restore correct frequency in the cells or organs of the body.
Main Uses
Sound healing is said to treat the mind, body, and spirit. Its main uses are in treating:
Stress and anxiety
Elevated blood pressure
Insomnia
Pain relief
Depression
Muscle pain
Used extensively during childbirth to help deal with associated pain.
Sound healing is simple to use and has no harmful side effects. Sound healing therapists believe that most conditions will respond to sound healing. However, they will generally not treat people with Epilepsy, Ménière’s Disease, and woman in the first three months of pregnancy.
What Does It Involve?
Vocal Expression: Toning, Singing, Chanting, Laughing.
Using Instruments: Crystal Bowls, Drums, Gongs, Tibetan Bowls, Tuning Forks, and other musical instruments.
Sound Healing Therapy: Where a person receives a sound healing treatment from a sound healer.
Self Healing: Using sound healing exercises for self healing.
Music: The use of music to relax, to reduce pain, or assist before surgery.
What to Expect from a Sound Healing Treatment
Most sound healing treatments will last for around one hour. During the treatment, you will lie on a therapy couch while the practitioner ‘sounds’ over you. There will then be a period of silence to allow you to integrate the sound healing. Practitioner may use their voices as well as musical instruments, such as crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, gongs, or tuning forks. Most people feel deeply relaxed after a sound healing treatment.
Simon Heather is the Principal of the College of Sound Healing.
History (In Brief)
Sound healing is one of the oldest forms of healing known to humanity. Sound healing was used by the ancient civilisations of China, Egypt, Greece, and India. In the Bible, David played his harp to lift King Saul’s depression. Handel wrote his ‘Water Music’ to help King George’s problems of memory loss and depression.