healingways
Sound Therapy
Through the Ages
Ancient instruments Still Soothe and heal
by Jay workman
H
umanity’s affinity for music can
the body’s life-giving
be traced to our most primitive
rhythms of heart and
origins. Tribal cultures around
lungs.
the world instinctively used sound for
Universities like
communication and as a healing tool.
Harvard currently are
Today’s technology explains why:
conducting research
Music bypasses learned behaviors to
into the positive effects
naturally regulate our pulse, blood
of rhythm therapy as
pressure, breathing and hormone pro-
part of a new integra-
duction; especially dopamine, which
tive medicine to reduce
controls mood.
stress, strengthen the immune system ing whine. When playing a bowl, the
People throughout the ages have
and treat addictions. In Colorado, ado- musician applies a padded mallet to the
fashioned various instruments that
lescent offenders participate in drum rim, and also may tap it, producing a
manipulate these neural connec-
circles hosted by the Department of bell-like sound.
tions, clearing the mind of distracting
Youth Services to help them become Older forms of singing bowls
thoughts or inducing states of well-be-
more centered in times of crisis. comprise five to seven different metals,
ing, satori and trance—even ecstasy. including gold and silver, with size,
Bells, Gongs & Cymbals
thickness and composition determining
Drums
Originating in Asia, metal gongs emit
pitch. One bowl or a whole array may
Man’s oldest instrument is found in
a range of pure, low-pitched tones that
be used, perhaps with tones of multiple
endless variety everywhere. But, an empty
facilitate contemplative and meditative
bowls overlapping, to create deeply
bottle or wastebasket can evoke the
states. Bells and finger cymbals often
satisfying harmonics.
same response as an African skin djem-
signal a moment to enter or emerge from
Robert Austin has traveled exten-
be, Persian metal tonbak or Polynesian
such states. With regular practice, these
sively for the past eight years, including
slit log drum. The steady cadence of
can become unconscious, reflexive
in Fort Myers, giving singing bowl con-
the beat naturally synchronizes with
triggers. Finger cymbals may
certs, workshops and healing sessions.
serve as a “clearing” device, to
About the healing power of sound, he
dispel negative energy from a
says, “Sound can penetrate the body to
space.
make it disturbed or happy.” He notes
how, “The bowls create harmony that
Singing Bowls
can release blockages created by life’s
Sometimes called standing
stresses,” proving beneficial for relief
bells, both traditional Tibetan
of neuropathy, neuralgia, arthritis and
metal and modern crystal
circulatory ailments.
singing bowls are used for
meditation, relaxation, health-
rain Stick & Didgeridoo
care, personal well-being and
A different approach to sound arose in
religious practice. Many of us
places where metals were unavailable.
may have rubbed a wet finger
Instead of a pure tone, these instru-
around the edge of a crystal
ments chorus a cascade of frequencies
wine glass to produce a ring-
to produce a constant drone.
Collier / Lee Counties
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