According to the Article written by Chase from ‘Musical Growth’ I learned a lot of the science behind frequencies as medicine, as follows below.
Homoeopathic medicine and noninvasive therapies have been a long-standing trend in Europe, especially in India, Japan, Tibet, and other Eastern countries. America, however, is beginning to catch up (finally!).
Yoga, Energy Medicine (Reiki), pranic healing, salt therapy, and sound therapy, for example, have been around for thousands of years and have stood the test of time. Before attempting Western medicine to cure, relieve, or prevent bodily pain, consider healing with sound frequencies and sound therapy.
Healing with sound frequencies has been around since the use of Tibetan singing bowls began over 2,000 years ago. So how does it work? What are the frequencies? Can it be done at home?
Why “Frequencies”?
“Frequency” is a measurement of how often something occurs on a recurring basis. One full completion of this repeating pattern is referred to as a “cycle.” So frequency is a measured number defined by how fast these cycles occur.
Frequency = cycles per amount of time
When it comes to defining pitches or tones, the “frequency” is defined more specifically by measuring how many cycles occur per second – which is referred to as “Hertz,” named after Heinrich Hertz (1857 – 1894), a German physicist who made important contributions to the scientific study of electromagnetism. “Hertz” was established as a measurement by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) in 1930.
Hertz = cycles per second
Most everything that vibrates can have a Hertz measurement including sound, radiation, computers, phones etc., but as far as sound waves go, not all frequencies can be heard by the human ear.
The average person can hear a range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz; whereas, most of the important sounds we hear on an everyday basis range from 250 to 6,000 Hz.
Our hearing becomes weaker as we age as well, so those in their twenties have no problem hearing tones at 20,000 Hz but older people over 60 years-old have a difficult time hearing tones above 8,000 Hz.
Why “Sound”?
Everything in the universe that exists within our dimension’s laws of physics has a vibration – from string theory to cells to light to cosmic rays, everything vibrates. The Universe was created with soundwaves.
When “sound” occurs, especially lower frequencies, they activate certain resonant spaces depending on the frequency/space relation. Even different materials can be manipulated by frequencies because of sympathetic vibrations. When striking a low C on an acoustic piano, all the above C’s and it’s relative harmonic series resonate. This is that of the natural occurrence of the overtone series (also known as the harmonic series). Without getting into overtones TOO much, each acoustically made tone emphasizes multiple overtone pitches existent within a naturally made sound (not electronically manufactured). Instruments sound different from one another because of this variation in overtone combination.When it comes to sound healing, the body resonates at certain frequencies. Have you ever wondered why you feel the beat at the club? Or maybe you’ve felt your heart flutter with certain songs & people?
Sound healing focuses on specific frequencies that resonate with our chakras, or sources of life energy (Chi, Prana, Qi).
The reason Tibetan singing bowls work so well in sound healing is that the metal alloys (5, 7, 9, or 12 different metals hand-hammered together) create some of the purest tones that maintain unwavering frequencies after ringing.
Music is a bit different though. Music can be defined as organized sound. Sound can be defined as vibrations that travel through the air, water, or other medium. Usually, nature creates sound in an unorganized or chaotic fashion with no purpose. When sounds are organized with human intent and purpose behind it, we can refer to it as “music.”
That is why is it called sound healing and not musical therapy. Musical therapy is the act of performing, creating, or listening to music. Sound healing is primarily using “sound” as a form of noninvasive healing.
How does it heal?
It is all about the chakras.
Although in total there are 11 chakras, the Western world focuses on the less dangerous seven (7): root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown (from the bottom of the spine to the top of the head).
These spinning wheels of energy soak in life force around us and release the byproducts after processing – much like breathing (the intake of oxygen leads to the exhale of carbon dioxide).
As we take in energy, these chakras (or “wheels” in Sanskrit) spin clockwise. As the byproducts are expelled, the wheels spin counter-clockwise (according to Master Stephen Co). The spinning occurs at a certain cycle in time and therefore can be measured in terms of frequency, thus bringing us back to its relation to sound.
When these wheels of energy spin too fast or too slow, it can affect the rest of the chakras (like the domino effect). Imagine a car with only four wheels (instead of 7!) – if one of the tires were flat, the weight of the car would be skewed causing abnormal wear on the other tires. If one is out, the others are negatively affected.
So it’s just as crucial for our health to check on the proper “spinning” of our chakras as it is to consistently check on our car’s tire pressure to ensure proper functionality.
By sounding a certain pitch (with a specific frequency) that resonates with one of our “flat” wheels of energy (or chakra), we can begin to coerce and influence the irregular cycle to spin at the more natural pace or frequency. Much like sympathetic vibrations in the laws of acoustical engineering.
So in sound healing, Chakras are influenced by sound vibrations to spin at the proper frequency. This, in turn, aligns our chakras and again allows the body to more naturally take in life force around us. This enables the tense-free channelling of energy through to the entire body.
Sound healing is essentially helping to remove blockages in our chakras that stop the flow of energy in our body.
The body itself is a product of nature and when allowed to function freely (when all chakras are aligned), a natural healing process occurs. The body knows how to heal itself already, we just need to let it. By removing blockages in our “energy body” or the chakras, we allow this process to happen.
What are the specific frequencies?
Most might think the next part is a divine secret withheld behind expensive fees. Well, you’re wrong! The great thing about spiritual teachers and true knowledge is that it is made available to all. Humanity should be able to access such power. No one should withhold valuable information if they truly care about the welfare of their fellow neighbor.
These frequencies are multiples of each other. For example, the Crown chakra resonates at 216 and the double of 216 which is 432 and the double of that which is 864. The reason being, it’s the same “note” just an octave higher.
Each chakra is located at a specific point in the body:
Crown – the top of your head
3rd eye – between your eyebrows
throat – between the collarbone and extends both upward to the eyes and down to the heart
Heart – right over the heart
Solar – abdominals, starts at belly-button and goes up to the breastbone
sacral – below the belly-button
Root – the base of the spine
Our body is made of around 60% of water and sound waves move much faster (several times faster) through water in comparison to air AND can travel farther distances. Plus, according the latest research by Gerald Pollack and Veda Austin, water has been seen to hold consciousness.
It’s only logical to conclude that the spaces in our body are susceptible to the physics of sound as well and thus react in a similar way. Sympathetic vibrations occur when presented with specific frequencies or tones – why would our body be any different?
As far as chakra-specific frequencies, there are very few sources for objective research to be found. Mainly because there have been numerous systems used in sound healing, including:
Steven Halpern’s 7-note scale (began in 1975)
Randall McClelland’s harmonic series (began in 1988)
Steven Halpern is one of the most well-known composers of chakra healing music since his debut album, “Chakra Suite,” in 1975 which has sold almost a million copies by now. Halpern conducted sonic research involving a seven-note scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) which he believed to resonate best with our chakras after experimenting with hundreds of people in 1985.
A system in 1988 coined by Randall McClellan, assumed that exact pitches varied per person and focused primarily with overtones and harmonics. Depending on each person’s specific resonant “note,” each overtone above this note would then be most effective. For example, if “C” was a person’s fundamental tone, then:
The 2nd harmonic would resonate with the Root chakra (C)
The 3rd harmonic would resonate with the Sacral chakra (G)
The 4th harmonic would resonate with the Navel chakra (C)
The 5th harmonic would resonate with the Heart chakra (E)
The 6th harmonic would resonate with the Throat chakra (G)
The 7th harmonic would resonate with the Brow chakra (Bb)
The 8th harmonic would resonate with the Crown chakra (C)
But as stated by McClellan, there is no clear indication of which tones correlate the best with the seven chakras. Other researchers before the early 1990’s concluded that no one system works out of all the convoluted ideas of frequencies and chakras.
Cymatics
Everyone musician should know of cymatics. A form of sound study coined by Hans Jenny in the first of the 20th century where a surface is vibrated by sound and particles placed on the surface then move according to the driving frequency and it’s correlating geometry.
Essentially, cymatics gives shape to sound!
It’s hard to explain. But the experiment would be to see how CLEAR the resultant shapes would be when comparing 432Hz vs. 440Hz.
Ideally, I think the changing overtone system used by the founder of the Sound Healers Association, Jonathan Goldman, is best. There are videos all over youtube on the effect of cymatics, go watch a few and let your mind spin…so fun to know how our cellular matrix is responding to these sounds.
The world of noninvasive healing can sometimes be powered by the mind through the “Placebo effect,” but sound healing has a lot of science behind it.
So whether you “believe” in it or not, you should take a moment and consider keeping an open mind. Sound healing is worth a shot, right? Might as well! What’s the harm!
What’s your opinion on sound healing? Have you had any experiences of your own? Let me know in the comments below!
If you want more explanations, I would recommend these books:
Resources: from Chase at Musical Growth
Hope to see some of you at my Sound Bath Journey’s where we meet at The Pool and bathe in the healing frequencies of sound together. Check the Event Calendar Here for dates and locations.
May you all find your natural healing ability and return to your truest Divine self.