I recently completed my year-long training in Sound Healing, which looked at the science pertaining to sound in conjunction with practical aspects of sound as medicine. I absolutely loved the course, and it gave me so many insights into the potential of sound and the curriculum included exploring both crystal and Tibetan singing bowls. In the present world, we are seeing an increasing level of awareness and concern about well-being. As such, many of the ways of the ancients are re-emerging to take their place as impactful tools of healing. The use of singing bowls, steeped in history and mystery, follows this route, being an increasingly popular tool in modern therapies. If stroked or struck with a mallet, the metal or crystal bowls produce sounds that have been enchanting people for decades. But there’s more to them than their beautiful chimes – they have the incredible potential to change our physical and mental states in ways that science is only discovering.
Old roots, new meaning
Singing bowl meditation originates from Tibetan and Buddhist cultures. It was used as a spiritual practice to align energy centres, or chakras, in the body. The bowls produce sounds that are believed to affect the energy fields of the body to help with balance and healing. More recent studies support these ideas, showing physical and mental benefits from singing bowl therapy.
These studies have shown that the vibrations produced by these bowls have been known to positively affect the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. Their soothing sounds also lower tension, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, improving overall well-being. In the modern world, where problems stemming from stress are mounting, these inexpensive and safe bowls are being rediscovered as substitutes for orthodox medicine.
The Science Behind the Sound
The most dominant idea in the healing power of singing bowls is that of brainwave synchronisation. More recent research has demonstrated that rhythmic sounds produced by a singing bowl can change the way the brain works, mostly in the theta wave range of 4-8 Hz. Theta waves are produced during deep states of either relaxation or meditation or at high levels of creativity, driven into a state of calm and clarity within the self.
Research by Seetharaman et al. (2023) shows that the beating sound made by a singing bowl – which synchronises with meditation brainwaves – enables an individual to relax. That is, participants demonstrated higher theta and delta wave activities with a corresponding decrease in the higher-frequency body waves, like alpha and beta. This shift highlights that singing bowls assist the person in achieving a meditative state and also favour physical relaxation, which in turn leads to many body and mind benefits.
Healing Through Harmony
Singing bowls are often used in sound healing sessions. Practitioners may use one or more bowls to create a more enriching sound experience. Sessions can improve an individual’s well-being—to treat problems like stress or lack of concentration—or deepen spiritual enhancement. This is not just sound that one hears but rather feels, as the vibration goes deep inside the body, giving a deep sense of connection with oneself and calmness.
These bowls reportedly affect another part of the brain, generally known as the TPJ (temporal-parietal junction), which may participate in self-awareness and empathy. This may also relate to enhanced empathetic or compassionate states of mind. Like with other altered states of consciousness, such as meditation and psychedelics, it appears that the singing bowls dissolve the self, fostering a greater sense of cohesion and understanding.
Can the Experience Be Replicated?
Singing bowls are of interest to researchers, who are looking at how to emulate their effects using technology. Virtual reality and other tools trying to synchronise brainwaves try to mimic the very relaxing sensations created by these ancient instruments. Nothing yet quite compares with the profound and crystalline experience of playing a real singing bowl, although science may yet close this gap. In the meantime, the unique sound of the bowls gives us a precious means of fostering health.
Widening the Ways of Healing
Uses of singing bowls extend far beyond the realm of personal therapy: group sound meditations help people to bond and heal together. In creating a peaceful space, such sessions allow individuals to feel connected to something greater, fostering the knowledge that healing is both a personal and shared experience.
Singing bowls are increasingly used in clinics, such as in therapy and care for the dying. They provide a kind of safety and quietness, which is especially favourable for patients with trauma, prolonged pain, or are anxious about dying. With more extensive use, it is hopeful that at some stage, singing bowls will become a part of integrated medical treatment.
The Road Ahead
The re-emergence of singing bowls in modern practices of well-being serves as a symptom of returning to ancient wisdom. While ongoing research unravels their working process, these simple yet deep tools possess the power to change our notion of healing from an absence of sickness to an integral state of balance and harmony. They show how sound, mind and body come into play. They have the capability to entrain brainwaves, align energy fields, and produce resonances that may well involve feelings of empathy, thus improving well-being.
Reference:
Seetharaman, R., Avhad, S., & Rane, J. (2023). Exploring the healing power of singing bowls: An overview of key findings and potential benefits. EXPLORE, 20(1), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2023.07.007
Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
Melanie Oborne is a psychologist and researcher who has a passion for bringing together clinical practices, scientific research, and spiritual paradigms to enhance individual well-being. Since 2018, Melanie has assisted clients to integrate their transpersonal and/or paranormal experiences. Melanie currently conducts qualitative research with the Shared Crossing Project based in Santa Barbara, California.
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
- Melanie Oborne, Our Expert
