voice, sound & vibration therapy
Deeply embedded in ancient cultures across every corner the world, the healing power of sound for physical, emotional and spiritual health is still with us today. If the idea of using "music as medicine" all seems a little far-fetched for you, then please read on... It may not be as unexpected, usual or unsuccessful as you may first think!
The sound of music plays an integral role in our weddings, our funerals, our entertainment, our personal story of who we are and our group story of how we communicate together. Sad-hearted love songs, rousing sporting anthems, the terrifying suspense in a horror movie, the pulsing throb of a dance floor, the gentle pleasures of quiet relaxation... Sound and music are at the heart of all our emotions, our spiritual health, and the natural responses of our physical body.
Modern science is starting to give us a measurable window into the effects of our physical responses to sound, and how this affects our whole body.
Sound-based vibration treatment has been shown to help people with pain from arthritis, menstrual pain, postoperative pain, knee replacement pain. Sound-based treatment has also been found to improve our response to stress, enhance mobility, reduce muscle pain and stiffness, increase blood circulation, lower blood pressure and enhance feelings of well-being.
Our sound therapists Melissa and Ganga first met at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music thirty years ago. They have extensive experience in the power of sound, and how this can manifest itself in surprising ways. The modern study and practice of sound healing is still in its infancy, but perhaps measuring the physical, emotional and spiritual results of sound therapy is simply just confirming what is already instinctively known?
Sound therapy works.
There are many ways that sound therapy can happen. Some methods are very well known and happen quite naturally, inspiring connection since the dawn of time. Think of a mother's soothing lullaby, or a rhythmic tribal chant that brings the gathered group closer together. Other styles of sound & vibration therapy are new products of scientific breakthroughs, where we can now measure effects, particularly in electrical brain activity, and therefore stimulate and encourage positive neurological results. Happy brain, happy body, happy feelings and happy person!
Here are some of the ways we use sound therapy at the Lighthouse.
Sound Psychotherapy
A pioneer and leader in her field, please see Ganga's webpages here and a description of how Ganga works here, and how this can help you.
Music & Reiki Healing
As a professional musician, when Melissa began the two-year training that led to a Diploma of Remedial Massage, the importance of music was instinctive and integral from the very beginning. The classes were filled with laughter and learning as their teacher often referred student enquiries to 'the doctor' (a GP classmate who filled in any gaps with physiology knowledge) and 'the musician' (Melissa's commentary on which pieces of music would enhance particular massage styles, and why!).
Years later, when Melissa began including Reiki professionally into a client's massage, the profound effects of music were even more amplified. Here at the Lighthouse, find out more about Melissa who works with Reiki and Sound Therapy hand-in-hand.
Binaural Beats
A recent and exciting development, the science and art of using binaural beats to promote relaxation and healing are becoming more documented and proven. Binaural beats are created when the left and right channels of music are vibrating at slightly different frequencies. Just as our eyes each receive images which are then combined in our brain to form a single composite, our ears receive sound independently and the brain processes this together. With Binaural Beats, the resulting "difference" between the two audio channels is a very low frequency, normally far too low for us to hear, and this mimics or "entrains" the electrical impulses of our brain at very deep levels.
Here's some more information, if you're into the science behind how it works!
According to Dr. Suzanne Evans Morris, Ph.D., a speech-language pathologist:
"Research shows that different frequencies presented to each ear through stereo headphones… create a difference tone (or binaural beat) as the brain puts together the two tones it actually hears. Through EEG monitoring the difference tone is identified by a change in the electrical pattern produced by the brain. For example, frequencies of 200 Hz and 210 Hz produce a binaural beat frequency of 10 Hz (The difference in 210 Hz and 200 Hz is 10 Hz). Monitoring of the brain’s electricity (EEG) shows that the brain produces increased 10 Hz activity with equal frequency and amplitude of the wave form in both hemispheres of the brain (left and right hemisphere)."
A series of experiments conducted by neuro-electric therapy engineer Dr. Margaret Patterson and Dr. Ifor Capel, revealed how alpha brainwaves boosted the production of serotonin. Dr. Capel explained:
"As far as we can tell, each brain center generates impulses at a specific frequency based on the predominant neurotransmitter it secretes. In other words, the brain’s internal communication system—its language, is based on frequency… Presumably, when we send in waves of electrical energy at, say, 10 Hz, certain cells in the lower brain stem will respond because they normally fire within that frequency range."
"Research shows that different frequencies presented to each ear through stereo headphones… create a difference tone (or binaural beat) as the brain puts together the two tones it actually hears. Through EEG monitoring the difference tone is identified by a change in the electrical pattern produced by the brain. For example, frequencies of 200 Hz and 210 Hz produce a binaural beat frequency of 10 Hz (The difference in 210 Hz and 200 Hz is 10 Hz). Monitoring of the brain’s electricity (EEG) shows that the brain produces increased 10 Hz activity with equal frequency and amplitude of the wave form in both hemispheres of the brain (left and right hemisphere)."
A series of experiments conducted by neuro-electric therapy engineer Dr. Margaret Patterson and Dr. Ifor Capel, revealed how alpha brainwaves boosted the production of serotonin. Dr. Capel explained:
"As far as we can tell, each brain center generates impulses at a specific frequency based on the predominant neurotransmitter it secretes. In other words, the brain’s internal communication system—its language, is based on frequency… Presumably, when we send in waves of electrical energy at, say, 10 Hz, certain cells in the lower brain stem will respond because they normally fire within that frequency range."
It’s very intriguing to think that something as simple as sound, as music, which we have come to treat as utterly pleasurable entertainment, has not only been used to promote healing and well-being, but has proven to work through research as well.
At the root of all our thoughts, emotions and behaviours is the communication between neurons within our brains. Brainwaves are produced by synchronised electrical pulses from masses of neurons communicating with each other.
Our brainwaves change according to what we’re doing and feeling. When slower brainwaves are dominant we can feel tired, slow, sluggish, or dreamy. The higher frequencies are dominant when we feel wired, or hyper-alert.
Here are the frequencies that correspond to the electrical brainwaves, and what type of thought, feeling, task and mood activity in each frequency band is associated with. The descriptions that follow are only broad descriptions - in practice things are far more complex, and brainwaves reflect different aspects when they occur in different locations in the brain. Find out more from this link to Brainworks Neurotherapy.
Infra-Low (<0.5Hz) Infra-Low brainwaves are the basic cortical rhythms that underpin our higher brain functions. Very little is known about infra-low brainwaves. Their slow nature makes them difficult to detect and accurately measure, so few studies have been done. They appear to take a major role in brain timing and network function.
Delta Waves (0.5 to 3Hz) Delta brainwaves are slow, loud brainwaves (low frequency and deeply penetrating, like a drum beat). They are generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Delta waves suspend external awareness and are the source of empathy. Healing and regeneration are stimulated in this state, and that is why deep restorative sleep is so essential to the healing process.
Theta Waves (3 to 8Hz) Theta brainwaves occur most often in sleep but are also dominant in deep meditation. Theta is our gateway to learning, memory, and intuition. In theta, our senses are withdrawn from the external world and focused on signals originating from within ourselves. It is that twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly, as we wake up or drift off to sleep, often filled with vivid imagery, intuition and information beyond our normal conscious awareness. It’s also where we hold our "stuff"... Our fears, troubled history, and nightmares.
Alpha Waves (8 to 12Hz) Alpha brainwaves are dominant during quietly flowing thoughts, and in some meditative states. Alpha is "the power of now", of being here, in the present. Alpha is the awake but calmly resting state. Alpha waves aid overall mental coordination, calmness, alertness, mind/body integration and learning.
Beta Waves (12 to 38Hz) Beta brainwaves dominate our normal waking state of consciousness, when our attention is directed towards cognitive thinking tasks and the outside world. Beta is a ‘fast’ activity, present when we are alert, attentive, engaged in problem solving, judgment, decision making, or focused mental activity.
Beta brainwaves are further divided into three bands:
Lo-Beta (Beta1, 12-15Hz) can be thought of as a fast idle, or musing.
Beta (Beta2, 15-22Hz) is high engagement or actively figuring something out.
Hi-Beta (Beta3, 22-38Hz) is highly complex thought, integrating new experiences, high anxiety, or excitement. Continual high frequency processing is not a very efficient way to run the brain, as it takes a tremendous amount of energy.
Gamma Waves (38 to 42Hz) Gamma brainwaves are the fastest of brain waves (high frequency, like a flute), and relate to simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas. Gamma brainwaves pass information rapidly and quietly. The most subtle of the brainwave frequencies, the mind has to be quiet to access gamma. Gamma was dismissed as "spare brain noise" until researchers discovered it was highly active when in states of universal love, altruism, and the "higher virtues". Gamma is also above the frequency of neuronal firing, so how it is generated remains a mystery. It is speculated that gamma rhythms modulate perception and consciousness, and that a greater presence of gamma relates to expanded consciousness and spiritual emergence. Check out the link to our Spiritual Development here.
At the root of all our thoughts, emotions and behaviours is the communication between neurons within our brains. Brainwaves are produced by synchronised electrical pulses from masses of neurons communicating with each other.
Our brainwaves change according to what we’re doing and feeling. When slower brainwaves are dominant we can feel tired, slow, sluggish, or dreamy. The higher frequencies are dominant when we feel wired, or hyper-alert.
Here are the frequencies that correspond to the electrical brainwaves, and what type of thought, feeling, task and mood activity in each frequency band is associated with. The descriptions that follow are only broad descriptions - in practice things are far more complex, and brainwaves reflect different aspects when they occur in different locations in the brain. Find out more from this link to Brainworks Neurotherapy.
Infra-Low (<0.5Hz) Infra-Low brainwaves are the basic cortical rhythms that underpin our higher brain functions. Very little is known about infra-low brainwaves. Their slow nature makes them difficult to detect and accurately measure, so few studies have been done. They appear to take a major role in brain timing and network function.
Delta Waves (0.5 to 3Hz) Delta brainwaves are slow, loud brainwaves (low frequency and deeply penetrating, like a drum beat). They are generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Delta waves suspend external awareness and are the source of empathy. Healing and regeneration are stimulated in this state, and that is why deep restorative sleep is so essential to the healing process.
Theta Waves (3 to 8Hz) Theta brainwaves occur most often in sleep but are also dominant in deep meditation. Theta is our gateway to learning, memory, and intuition. In theta, our senses are withdrawn from the external world and focused on signals originating from within ourselves. It is that twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly, as we wake up or drift off to sleep, often filled with vivid imagery, intuition and information beyond our normal conscious awareness. It’s also where we hold our "stuff"... Our fears, troubled history, and nightmares.
Alpha Waves (8 to 12Hz) Alpha brainwaves are dominant during quietly flowing thoughts, and in some meditative states. Alpha is "the power of now", of being here, in the present. Alpha is the awake but calmly resting state. Alpha waves aid overall mental coordination, calmness, alertness, mind/body integration and learning.
Beta Waves (12 to 38Hz) Beta brainwaves dominate our normal waking state of consciousness, when our attention is directed towards cognitive thinking tasks and the outside world. Beta is a ‘fast’ activity, present when we are alert, attentive, engaged in problem solving, judgment, decision making, or focused mental activity.
Beta brainwaves are further divided into three bands:
Lo-Beta (Beta1, 12-15Hz) can be thought of as a fast idle, or musing.
Beta (Beta2, 15-22Hz) is high engagement or actively figuring something out.
Hi-Beta (Beta3, 22-38Hz) is highly complex thought, integrating new experiences, high anxiety, or excitement. Continual high frequency processing is not a very efficient way to run the brain, as it takes a tremendous amount of energy.
Gamma Waves (38 to 42Hz) Gamma brainwaves are the fastest of brain waves (high frequency, like a flute), and relate to simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas. Gamma brainwaves pass information rapidly and quietly. The most subtle of the brainwave frequencies, the mind has to be quiet to access gamma. Gamma was dismissed as "spare brain noise" until researchers discovered it was highly active when in states of universal love, altruism, and the "higher virtues". Gamma is also above the frequency of neuronal firing, so how it is generated remains a mystery. It is speculated that gamma rhythms modulate perception and consciousness, and that a greater presence of gamma relates to expanded consciousness and spiritual emergence. Check out the link to our Spiritual Development here.
