The Effect That Sound has on People

"The various types of frequency therapies (bio-resonance) are not magic or superstition, but they are based on biology, chemistry and physics".

Dr. James Oschman

The Effect That Sound has on People

Throughout the history of mankind the frequencies of voice and sound have been widely used to calm, please, excite, influence the state of consciousness in religious ceremonies and rites and of course, for the purpose of healing.

For example: using African drums before going into battle to raise the warriors’ level of confidence and belief in their success; beating drums were used in shamanic rituals in Native American tribes to put people into a state of hypnotic trance; the Tibetans use metal bowls for soothing and healing, and the range of surface sounds produced from them can alter the mental state and electromagnetic field of an individual; in India they use mantras and hymns to stabilize the nervous system and alter brain waves, and more.

At the present time scientists already have some knowledge regarding how to measure the effect of sound frequencies on the human body and mind. This is an evolving field known as psychoacoustics.

In recent years awareness is generating among the scientific community regarding the resonance that music and sounds produce in the human body. This resonance has the ability to change chemical arrays in bodily fluids and tissues, to spread among the cells, to create biochemical and emotional reactions, and create multiple chain reactions in some of the systems in the body and mind .

It is possible to measure the changes in the brain waves which occur following exposure to such musical frequencies using an EEG (electroencephalograph).

Accumulated experience worldwide reveals what has been known since the dawn of human history – that music is able to assist in the healing process, induce deep relaxation, alter states of consciousness and so much more.

Biologically

Many researchers today are involved with trying to understand the biological, psychological and mental effects that music has on humans.

Dealing with this matter consists of listening to and playing music, each of which produces different reactions; and each of which also activates centers in the brain and body differently – all part of the energetic system known as ‘man’.

Biologically the sounds directly impact the condition and composition of substances in the body, especially water and connective tissue, and create movement in these materials.

Physiologically

This can be understood on the physical level by the concept of ‘resonance’.

When we expose the body to sound frequencies similar to those that exist naturally in the substances and centers of energy in the body, the sound waves create a resonance in the bodily material and energy, and alter the fluctuation and motility of these materials.

If, for example, there is a blockage in the flow of blood in any particular part of ​​the body – and we know what the energetic frequency of that part of the body is – we can use the sound that helps the flow of blood, thereby releasing the blockage.

This is a field which is being explored at the present time. We do not yet have all of the information about the specific effect of each frequency on each material in the body, but research in this field is making great strides.

From a physiological aspect, mechanical, physical and biochemical functions in the body have different types of materials and structures, and each of them resonates differently. The bones, for example, resonate with a strong movement, while the finger joints dim the passage of the sound frequencies.

The joints of the skull, the auditory canal, the structure of the eardrum and the entire ear are built to undergo change following exposure to sounds, as well as changing sound frequencies into electromagnetic vibration in other parts of the body. The change, which is electric in nature, creates a chain reaction of molecule and substance movement which branch out throughout the body.

Chemistry is influenced by music

Following the resonance with sounds there is a change in the movement of all the cells in the body when every material, organ and cell has an increase in resonance, with specific frequencies which correspond to the basic fluctuation frequency of that cell.

The composition of substances in our body – chemistry – is also influenced by music.

The music affects the hormonal secretions in the body and the secretions of neurotransmitters in the brain and, following that, a variety of chemical changes occur in the human body.

For example, exposure to music that creates a sense of calm in an individual will result in a reduction in the secretion of adrenaline: the stress hormone (secreted by the adrenal glands) as well as an increased secretion of oxytocin – the hormone of love and tranquility (secreted from the hypothalamus and released into the blood from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland).

It is not possible to predict in a scientific and precise manner what will arouse a musical sequence at any given moment in any individual. There are many variables in this equation, and everyone responds differently to any kind of music at any given time. Nevertheless, we do  know for certain that even on the chemical plane changes occur because of exposure to sounds and musical sequences, and there are general common denominators for music which is soothing or stimulating, music that produces a sense of fear (in horror movies for example), music which is meditative, trance music etc.

As musicians or sound therapists we are able to choose the effect we wish to create with music, based on the broad common denominators of human response. However, a sense of reserve requires us to acknowledge that this is not an exact science and the reactions of any person may change at any given moment, and may even surprise us.