An all you need to know guide on healing sounds and frequencies
From ancient rituals to biomusicology, Balance explores the world of sound healing. Here, we have curated a pit-stop guide to the vast landscape of sounds and frequencies to better our wellbeing…
Healing the body through music sounds like an abstract concept, perhaps reserved for those who indulge in singing bowl yoga retreats and find themselves looking for an ego death in Thailand. It’s got a bad rep on social media, with most people seeing it as a spiritual fad that Gen Z will forget about nearly as quickly as it comes around.
However, music does have the power to heal, and it has done so for centuries across various cultures. Ancient Greeks used flutes to aid digestion and sleep (as described by Aristotle); Native Americans used drums and chanting to connect the physical to the spiritual; traditional Chinese medicine used musical tones to balance the bodies energy; Hawaiin ‘Mele’ believed that illness can be cured through restoring energy imbalance; Ancient Egypt used sound for therapeutic purposes… the list goes on.
But in modern times, this all looks a little different. The oversaturation of sound and frequency healing differs from small community-based rituals and ceremonies, and we have access to all different types with misleading information at our fingertips. So, it's easy to get overwhelmed and also feel dubious about its effectiveness. Science has only recently caught up as well, with the study of the practice of music therapy being a mere 75 years old.
A body of research conducted by the National Institute of Health calls it “an emergent practice within the healthcare context”, which hasn’t received attention until recently because it is a “very complex phenomenon; to control its parameters scientifically is practically impossible.” They sought to approach defining music therapy through the response mechanism, as opposed to the stimuli, concluding that the body is affected both positively and negatively through a range of vibrations.
But it's not that simple; within this conclusion comes swathes of research to support how different types of sounds and frequencies affect the body, and consequently, the mind. The research and findings can get confusing, and oftentimes overlap online when reduced to an overarching umbrella term. For example, a TikTok advertises “listen to this sound and you will feel calm”. Whilst this could be the case, there are way more sounds and frequencies that could target your specific areas of stress, and understanding this sector of the health and wellbeing sphere could be the answer to some of your issues.
We feel it is important to do your own research, especially if there is an individual issue you are looking to target. But whittling that down is quite the feat! So here, Balance has compiled a pit-stop all you need to know on different sounds and frequencies, and how they can heal your body and mind…
What are sounds and frequencies?
Sounds and frequencies, for starters, are not interchangeable terms. Sounds refer to any natural or artificial sound that could have therapeutic properties (for example, the sound of rain, paper rustling, whistling, the wind, etc), and frequencies refer to sounds that are believed to have healing properties. These are measured in Hertz (Hz), and are crucial is understanding how we perceive sounds. They are often associated with specific parts of the body, like our organs, or in a spiritual context, our chakras. Different frequency ranges can relate to different aspects of sounds, like speech, musical instruments, rhythm, and all the characteristics that sit within this.
Entrainment Theory – In biomusicology, entrainment refers to the synchronisation of two or more oscillating (to swing back and forth in regular rhythm) systems. So when two objects with different frequencies have a relationship, they can eventually sync. The premise can be compared to a pendulum clock, which keeps time with a harmonic oscillator. For our bodies, this means that when we are exposed to healing frequencies, we can entrain our bodies to the same.
Energy theory – Physics (Einstein in particular) would dictate that all matter is made up of energy. This theory suggests that different frequencies hold different energies, so they can affect our matter in return. Research proves that frequencies and vibrations can change things like our blood pressure and heart rate, for example, thus the premise of energy theory.
Chemical Theory – Music, sounds, and frequencies may also influence our body on a cellular level. This can be seen in research that proves sound alters viability and cell motility in nonauditory cells, meaning chemicals and enzymes that aren’t involved with the direct response can have healing properties elsewhere in the body.
What do different frequencies trigger?
Now this all depends on which set of sound frequencies you look at! There are Solfeggio frequencies, binaural beats, isochronic tones, Nikola Tesla 3-6-9 frequencies, planet frequencies, bilateral frequencies, and sacred frequencies – just to name a few.
Solfeggio frequencies are the ones that you probably see a lot of online on TikTok and YouTube, and are believed to relieve anxieties and aid relaxation. In order of Hertz, they go as follows:
‘Liberating Frequency’ at 396 Hz – believed to release negative thoughts and enhance a sense of freedom.
‘Resonating Frequency’ at 417 Hz – believed to clear energy and improve change and transformation.
‘Love Frequency’ at 528 Hz – believed to reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance creativity.
‘Connecting Frequency’ at 693 Hz – believed to aid harmonious relationships and improve communication.
‘Awakening Frequency’ at 741Hz – believed to enhance deeper awareness, intuition, and spirituality.
‘Intuition Frequency’ at 852 Hz – believed to clear thoughts, improve communication, and promote spiritual growth.
There are also two frequencies above 1000Hz, the ‘Spiritual Frequency’ at 1074 Hz, believed to improve communication with a higher consciousness, and a personal favourite of ours, the ‘Balance Frequency’ at 1174 Hz. This is a higher alternative to the ‘Love Frequency’ and is believed to centre the body, mind, and increase alertness, enhance creativity and productivity.
Binaural beats – sometimes used to tune instruments – are a type of sound wave therapy where two frequencies are played in each ear. The difference between these frequencies creates a third frequency. These are most commonly seen in five different categories:
Delta in 1-4 Hz – believed to help deep sleep.
Theta in 4-8 Hz – believed to help meditation and creativity.
Alpha in 8-12 Hz – believed to help mental clarity and improve focus.
Beta in 12-30 Hz – believed to help alertness and energy.
Gamma in 30-100 Hz – believed to heighten awareness and consciousness.
There are endless other frequencies to explore, from Chakra tones to Tesla’s angel numbers – all believed to serve a different purpose.
How do I know which sound therapy is right for me?
The good news is you can pretty much explore most options online, and finding out which works for you involves understanding your individual needs and preferences. There a numerous qualified practitioners of sound therapy available, and we would suggest your first step to be writing down your goals to determine which is best for you. From seeking relaxation to treating tinnitus, there is such a vast range of frequencies that can target specific issues. Perhaps jot down your needs, your sound preferences, any health concerns, and experiment first with a few options available to you.