Introduction to Sound Therapy

Vibrational Sound Therapy

If you have ever had homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, color therapy, Reiki, flower essences, sound therapy or even aspirin, then you have already experienced vibrational medicine. But what exactly is vibrational medicine?

According to Richard Gerber, MD, "Vibrational medicine attempts to heal illnesses by manipulating subtle energy fields via directing energy into the body instead of manipulating the cells and organs through drugs or surgery." Sound therapy is a method of applying vibrational or energy medicine and facilitates positive change in our energetic fields by guiding the body back to a healthy vibration.

Using sound and vibration for body and energy work can greatly enhance the affect of therapy on yourself or your clients. This occurs because the use of sound helps you to relax which in turn allows you to become more receptive to what is being offered.

Everything in the universe is energy and all energy vibrates: the Earth, your car, the tree outside your window, the paper on which this article is written. Thoughts and emotions, as energy, are vibrations as well.

Have you ever felt stress, fear or anger at work or with family? These feelings are examples of unhealthy vibrations. Have you ever felt completely at peace while sitting by the ocean? Have you experienced unconditional love? When we feel good we are experiencing harmonious and healthy vibrations.

So why do we not re-adjust our vibration to a healthy state automatically? The answer lies with the principles of resonance and entrainment.

Resonance

John Beaulieu N.D., Ph.D, a composer, pianist, and naturopath, describes resonance as "[what] occurs when the vibrations of one object reach out and set off vibrations in another object." If two people are feeling negative, they often commiserate. Misery seeks misery. If someone starts laughing uncontrollably, have you felt compelled to laugh with them? This is considered resonance.

Entrainment

When two or more objects are brought close together, they begin pulsing in synchrony. This is entrainment. We can see the result of entrainment when women who live in the same household often find that their moon cycles coincide. Entrainment can also transform negative energy into positive energy.

Sound therapy, through the dynamics of resonance and entrainment, recalibrates the vibration of our physical and emotional bodies.

Hospitals and physicians are using music and sound to help their patients reduce stress associated with illness and surgical procedures. There is now evidence that recovery is accelerated when sound therapy is applied. Sound therapy is also commonly used in conjunction with body work, Reiki, meditation and other healing modalities. Many cultures use sound for healing, i.e. drumming, chanting, didgeridoo, Tibetan bowls.

Sound therapy is a natural method of awareness, healing and transformation. The vibration of our physical and emotional bodies can be recalibrated to accelerate healing and growth. As John Beaulieu states, "...we can merge with the rhythms of the cosmos. Our mind as well as our body becomes a resonant sounding board for spirit.