The Healing Power of Sound as Meditation

Research suggests sound is a powerful tool to reduce pain, anxiety, and more. This article is a short summary of some different ways that sound therapy has been used, including for minimizing pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, menstrual pain, postoperative pain, knee replacement pain. Sound-based treatment has even been found to improve mobility, reduce muscle pain and stiffness, increase blood circulation, and lower blood pressure.

There are numerous theories of why sound can be an effective source of minimizing pain. One theory is that sound works through the vibrational tactile effects on the whole body. Sound could stimulate touch fibers that affect pain perception. Another theory on the benefits of sound rests on the concept of “binaural beats” or “brain entrainment” which hypothesizes that listening to certain frequencies can synchronize and change one’s brainwaves.

Researchers are still trying to determine the mechanism of the healing benefits of sound, but sound in the form of vibrational therapy or meditation offers potential therapeutic benefits with low to minimal side effects.