Sound healing doesn’t just feel good because of the angelic, dreamy sounds singing bowls produce (although it’s definitely a benefit). The vibrations of these sounds work with our bodies to relax, restore and repair. It heals at a cellular level which benefits our mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing. There is scientific evidence to back up the physical effects sound healing has on the body including how it helps manage pain.
It’s best understood by walking through what happens in the body when the waves of a sound bath wash over us.
The physiological effects of sound healing
Singing bowls and other crystal sound healing tools release vibrations we hear as sound. As the brain naturally synchronises with the frequencies in its environment, it aligns with the sound waves. This is called brainwave entrainment.
The frequency of sound healing tunes the brain waves to a more relaxed state. When we’re fully conscious and attentive, we’re in Gamma or Beta brain waves. Alpha, Theta and Delta brain waves take us into deep relaxation and meditation.
Our body responds to this change in brain waves. If you’re constantly stressed or have experienced trauma, you might be stuck in fight or flight mode which is when your sympathetic nervous system takes over. It creates the physiological sensations of stress such as your heart beating faster and your breath becoming shallower.
Sound healing activates the parasympathetic nervous system which allows the body to rest, digest, restore and repair. We feel this in our physiological responses and with survival mode switched off, the body can get on with processes that keep us healthy like cellular repair.
One of the bodily processes that is activated by the relaxing effects of sound waves is the release of nitric oxide. This molecule is really important to our health and wellbeing. Firstly, it expands the blood vessels and increases the flow of blood around the body. This is a good thing because along with more blood flowing through the body is the oxygen and nutrients the blood carries.
Nitric oxide is also believed to affect pain responses in the body. A study found that it “inhibits nociception” which basically means it interrupts how we process pain.

The therapeutic benefits of sound baths
The more you look into sound healing and the effects of instruments like singing bowls, the more fascinating it becomes! But what does this mean for your experience of sound healing?
Firstly, the reduction of stress does wonders for our physical and mental health. Feeling worried about pain can make it even worse. Switching off the stress response will help you let go of tension and replace survival physiological responses with healing bodily processes.
This is supported by the release of nitric oxide as it increases the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients around the body. Supplements that support the release of nitric oxide are becoming increasingly popular because of the health benefits, particularly lowered blood pressure which affects lots of different conditions. Finally, there is evidence to suggest that nitric oxide reduces the level of pain we register in our bodies.
Whether playing singing bowls for yourself at home or attending a sound bath, you can relax, release mental and physical tension and let the positive physiological effects of sound healing take over. It’s like resetting and rebooting your body.

If you’ve never experienced sound healing before, I recommend you go to a sound bath. Join my email list at the bottom of this page to hear about the sound baths I run in the Bristol and London areas. If you’re interested in sound healing to manage pain and stress, look into getting your own singing bowls to play at home. You can start with a single bowl or a set of three.
I can walk you through choosing the right sound healing tools for your needs in a consultation. Whether you book online or in person, have a look through the sound library first to see which notes resonate with you. This will be our starting point in the consultation. A beginner’s workshop is a great way to learn about singing bowls and how they work and practice using the core playing techniques with a professional to guide you. How would you like to bring sound healing into your wellness journey?
Comments