How Does Sound Healing Work?
- Laura Pacheco
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Sound healing is both an ancient practice and a modern therapeutic approach. While science is still uncovering exactly how it works, we already know that sound has profound effects on the body and mind.
From research studies to the teachings of pioneers — and through my own experience & training with the British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST) and mentors including Simone Salvatici, Anne Malone, Dean Carter, and Mark Swan — what’s clear is that sound can support relaxation, restore balance, and help us reconnect with ourselves.
Relaxation and the Vagus Nerve
One of the clearest mechanisms is the vagus nerve, the body’s longest nerve connecting the brain to vital organs. When sound travels through the body or ears, it gently stimulates this nerve, activating the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” response.
In this state, stress hormones lower, the heart rate and blood pressure can reduce, and the body has more capacity to rest, repair, and heal. Even humming or chanting works this way, as the vibrations of the voice directly massage the vagus nerve.
Research shows that vagal stimulation through sound, breath, or chanting can calm the nervous system and support emotional regulation (Gerritsen & Band, 2018).
Long term, this may help prevent chronic illness, serious disease, and stress.
Entrainment and Brainwaves
Sound healing also works through entrainment — a natural process where rhythms synchronise. First observed by scientist Christian Huygens, entrainment shows up across nature, from pendulum clocks aligning to women’s menstrual cycles syncing.
When we rest in steady soundscapes from bowls, gongs, or drums, our brainwaves can shift from busy “beta” states into calmer “alpha” and “theta” states. These slower rhythms are linked with creativity, clarity, deep rest, and a sense of peace.
Studies show that rhythmic sound can influence brain activity (Bartel et al., 2017), and even a single Tibetan singing bowl meditation significantly reduced stress, tension, and reported pain in participants (Goldsby et al., 2017).
Vibration and Resonance
Everything in the universe vibrates — every organ, cell, and system of the body has its own natural frequency. When we’re well, these frequencies resonate in harmony, like instruments in an orchestra. But stress, emotional strain, or illness can throw the system out of tune.
Sound healing introduces harmonious vibrations through instruments such as crystal and Himalayan bowls, gongs, drums, chimes, and the voice. These can help “re-tune” the body, restoring flow and balance. Even simple self-created sounds, like humming, can have a balancing effect.
Science supports this too: vibration influences how cells behave (Kumar et al., 2014), while studies on noise pollution and occupational vibration show how sound and resonance directly affect health (Nieuwenhuijsen et al., 2017; Skröder et al., 2020, 2021).
This is also why we call our sound baths “Retune and Reset” — a nod to how sound can help bring the body back into harmony.
Science, Practice, and Lineage
Practitioners have explored these principles for decades. Jonathan Goldman describes sound as a bridge to healing through harmonics (1992, 2008), Eileen Day McKusick shows how tuning forks can restore coherence in the human biofield (2014, 2021), and oncologist Dr. Mitchell Gaynor integrated Himalayan bowls into cancer care to reduce anxiety and support wellbeing (2002).
At BAST, the school where I trained, observational studies also show promising outcomes — for example, people living with chronic pain reported meaningful improvements after sound therapy sessions.
Through other teachers & sound therapy courses — Simone Salvatici, Anne Malone, Dean Carter, and Mark Swan — I have been shown how sound can move beyond theory and research, becoming a lived, embodied experience that supports healing and connection.
In Summary
Sound healing works by combining vibration, resonance, and entrainment to bring the body and mind back into balance. It can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and support physical, emotional, and energetic wellbeing. Regular sessions can help release tension and create positive energy flow — reminding us that as our own energy shifts, so too can the world around us, and the world within us.
At Found in Sound, we bring together research, practice, and lineage to create safe, nurturing spaces where sound helps you relax, restore, and reconnect.
References
Bartel, L. R., Chen, R., & Alain, C. (2017). Music and rhythmic stimulation in rehabilitation of neurological disorders. Frontiers in Neurology, 8:716.
Gerritsen, R. J. S., & Band, G. P. H. (2018). Breath of life: The respiratory vagal stimulation model of contemplative activity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12:397.
Goldsby, T. L., Goldsby, M. E., McWalters, M., & Mills, P. J. (2017). Effects of singing bowl sound meditation on mood, tension, and well-being: An observational study. J Evid-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(3), 401–406.
Kumar, S., et al. (2014). Ultrasound mechanotransduction in cells. Applied Physics Reviews, 1(4).
Movalled, K., et al. (2023). The impact of sound stimulations during pregnancy on fetal development: A review. BMC Pediatrics, 23:233.
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., et al. (2017). Noise pollution and human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Health, 16:123.
Skröder, H. M., et al. (2020, 2021). Maternal occupational exposure to whole-body vibrations and adverse pregnancy outcomes. BMJ Open / Environmental Health.
Goldman, J. (1992, 2008). Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics; The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing.
McKusick, E. D. (2014, 2021). Tuning the Human Biofield; Electric Body, Electric Health.
Gaynor, M. L. (2002). The Healing Power of Sound.
British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST). Practitioner training programmes and chronic pain observational study.
+ various Sound Healing Training & Diploma courses from Simone Salvatici, Anne Malone, Mark Swan, Dean Carter, Centre of Excellence & Udemy
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