Sound Therapy: Healing Through the Power of Sound

By: Akshita Kothapalli
The Start Small Movement + IHWA Collab

Have you ever felt calm or energized after listening to your favorite song? That’s because sound has a powerful effect on our brains and bodies. Did you know that sound can actually be used as a form of therapy? This is called sound therapy, and it’s becoming popular as a way to help people relax, feel better, and even heal. In this blog, I’ll talk about what sound therapy is, how it works, some of its benefits, and why it might matter more than we think!

What is sound therapy?

Sound therapy is the use of sounds like music, vibrations, or tones to improve a person’s health and well being. It’s been around for thousands of years, they were used by ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Indigenous peoples. They believed that the sound could help balance the body and connect people spiritually. Today, sound therapy is used by professionals like music therapists and holistic healers to treat stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and even chronic pain. Sound therapy is more than relaxing music, it uses specific sounds and frequencies that are believed to affect the body in positive ways.

How does sound therapy work?

Sound therapy works by using sound waves and vibrations to “tune” the body to influence the body’s physical and emotional state. Everything in the universe, including our bodies, has a natural frequency. When we’re sick, stressed, or out of balance, our bodies’ frequencies can get thrown off. Sound therapy aims to bring us back into balance.

Sound therapy uses a concept called brainwave entrainment. This is when the brain’s activity (your brainwaves) synchronizes or matches with an external rhythmic stimulus, like sound. Different sound frequencies can correspond or benefit different brainwave states. For example, lower frequencies (alpha and theta waves) are linked to relaxation and meditation, while higher frequencies (beta waves) are associated with alertness and focus. These different frequencies help synchronize brainwaves and shift consciousness into a more relaxed state.

What are the different types of sound therapy?

Different approaches and techniques use various instruments like singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, and even the human voice. Here are a few different methods of sound therapy you might hear about.

1. Music Therapy:
   This is the most commonly known form of sound therapy. Music therapists use instruments, singing, and listening to music to help people express emotions, manage pain, and improve their mental health. It’s often used in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.
2. Sound Bath:
   A sound bath is like a meditation session, but instead of sitting in silence like normal meditation, you’re surrounded by sound. A practitioner plays singing bowls, chimes, and gongs to create a calming or peaceful experience. People often say they feel super relaxed or emotionally “lighter” afterward.
3. Vibroacoustic Therapy:
   This is a high-tech version of sound therapy where low frequency vibrations are delivered through speakers or chairs that you sit or lie on. It’s being studied for treating muscle tension, pain, and even conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
4. Tuning Fork Therapy:
   This technique uses calibrated metal tuning forks to deliver specific vibrations to targeted areas of the body. It aims to release tension and promote balance. It combines principles from vibrational medicine, acupuncture, and acupressure to interact with the body’s nervous system, tissues, and energy fields to foster balance and healing.
5. Binaural Beats:
   These are illusions created when two different frequencies are played separately in each ear. They are believed to cause specific brainwave states, leading to relaxation or increased focus. The brain perceives a third tone, known as the binaural beat, at a frequency equal to the difference between the two original tones. For example, playing a 400 Hz tone in one ear and a 420 Hz tone in the other produces a perceived beat at 20 Hz.
6. Gong Therapy:
   Gongs produce rich sounds that can be used for relaxation, reduce stress, and promote emotional release. Participants typically lie on mats, often with blankets and props for relaxation. The facilitator plays the gong in varying intensities and rhythms, and sometimes with other instruments (like singing bowls or chimes) or periods of no sound.
7. Chanting:
   The human voice, when used intentionally, can generate specific frequencies that are believed to have therapeutic effects. Chanting and toning are examples of this. Chanting involves repeating words, phrases, or mantras, often with spiritual or meditative significance. It can be practiced solo or in groups and is present in many traditions and cultures across the world.
8. Toning:
   Toning uses sustained vowel sounds (such as “OM” or “AUM”) or pure notes, often with no specific words. The focus is on the vibrations and the physical sensation of sound in the body. When practicing toning, sound is believed (in holistic traditions) to balance the body’s energy centers (chakras) and clear blockages.

What are the benefits of sound therapy?

Sound therapy offers a range of benefits for both physical and mental health. Also, sound therapy can help with relaxation, reduce anxiety, and help manage difficult conditions like anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Below are some of the many benefits of sound therapy.

1. Stress Reduction: Sound therapy can lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol, promoting relaxation and reducing the physical effects of stress
2. Pain Management: By triggering the release of endorphins, sound therapy can help manage both acute and chronic pain.
3. Improved Sleep: Calming sounds and music can help individuals relax and prepare for sleep, leading to better sleep quality.
4. Increased Focus, Concentration, and Mood: Sound therapy can help quiet the mind and improve focus and concentration. By reducing stress and promoting relaxation, it can contribute to a more positive and uplifted mood.

Can sound therapy replace medical treatments?

Sound therapy can be a valuable tool for promoting relaxation, well-being, and mental health but it should always be used as a complementary therapy with professional medical care. Medical treatments are designed to diagnose and treat the root causes of illnesses, while sound therapy focuses on symptom management and relaxation.

How can I implement sound therapy into my daily routine?

Integrating sound therapy into your daily life can be a simple and effective way to stay relaxed, reduce stress, and promote your overall well being. For example, you can dedicate time each day to listening to calming music of nature sounds like ocean waves, birdsong, or rain. This can be done while relaxing or working. Some find that listening to specific frequencies, such as 432 Hz or 528 Hz, is beneficial for relaxation and energy balance. Experimenting  with different techniques and instruments can help you find what resonates best with you and provides the most benefits for you!

Sources:

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healing-through-music-201511058556
2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201907/the-healing-power-of-sound-as-meditation
3. https://mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e69120?https://mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e69120?
4. https://neuroscienceresearch.wustl.edu/the-healing-power-of-sound-meditation-research-suggests-sound-can-reduce-anxiety-pain/
5. https://cambridgesleepsciences.com/news/the-science-and-history-of-sound-therapy/
6. https://olympicbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/sound-healing-therapy/
7. https://iaminharmony.com/pages/typesofsoundtherapy
8. https://www.healthline.com/health/sound-healing#benefits
9. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/noise-and-sleep/music