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| | | From: Rene (Original Message) | Sent: 8/2/2006 6:57 PM |
The field of Sound Energy Healing is growing rapidly, and is being more and more accepted as a viable healing modality by modern experts, scientists, and healing professionals. Here are just a few quotes from experts in the sciences and healing arts: "If we accept that sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies. One reason sound heals on a physical level is because it so deeply touches and transforms us on the emotional and spiritual planes. Sound can redress imbalances on every level of physiologic functioning and can play a positive role in the treatment of virtually any medical disorder" "Sound enters the healing equation from several directions: It may alter cellular functions through energetic effects; it may entrain biological systems to function more homeostatically; it may calm the mind and therefore the body; or it may have emotional effects, which influence neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, which in turn help to regulate the immune system--the healer within." - Mitchell Gaynor, M.D., Director of Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine at the Strang-Cornell Cancer Prevention Center and New York Hospital and author of the book The Healing Power of Sound : Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music "Sound therapy is one of the prototypical vibrational healing modalities. Sound produces measurable vibratory feelings throughout the body, depending upon the frequency and amplitude of the sound used. There have been a wide variety of sound healing developments over the last ten to twenty years. Certain sounds most likely have a healing influence upon the body because they influence the geometric patterns and organization of cells and living systems. "
- Dr. Richard Gerber, author of Vibrational Medicine "When the internal and external are at odds with each other--dissonant--the result is disease or a break in harmony. In tonal music the appreciator sought the fundamental in the music as a metaphor of spiritual unity, the ending of a journey. In new music one seeks the fundamental in one's self; the return to the fundamental is anywhere, anytime, and any direction, because the fundamental is everywhere and here."
Feel Better After J
- David Bohm, quantum physicist, author of Wholeness and the Implicate Order "We know that sounds are stimulating and we also have the technology to be able, in fact, to recharge people with them…The ear, the vibration sensor, serves to charge the organism with electrical potential…The charge of energy obtained from the influx of nervous impulses reaches the cortex [of the brain], which then distributes it [the energy] throughout the body toning up the whole system and imparting greater dynamism to the human being"
Dr.Alfred Tomatis, surgeon, Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, and a pioneer in Applied Psychology Excerpted from: SoundEnergyHealing.com Music to Heal Feeling the Beat of the Music in Your Heart The Power of Chant Sound Healing Harnessing Sound, Light, Heart, Mind and Will
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| | | From: Rene | Sent: 8/2/2006 9:41 PM |
Explore Healing Music and Sounds
© John W Travis M.D., M.P.H.
In the Greek myth of Orpheus, we find a powerful testimony to the power of music. Throughout his journey in the underworld, Orpheus played his lyre and sang. His music pacified the dark forces, bringing tears to the eyes of the gods and softening their hearts. Music stirs emotion. It is no wonder that music has been called the language of the soul. Music can soothe, energize, enervate, or fan passions. You’ve no doubt experienced the emotional effects of music at some point in your life—perhaps at a wedding, a graduation, or a funeral. In every culture, spiritual or religious ritual is accompanied by music, whether it involves the rousing drumbeat of a tribal dance, the mournful strains of a medieval requiem, the awakening call of a cantor, or the joyous chorus of hand-clapping gospel singers. Music alters the body and the mind. Just as loud, harsh sounds can injure eardrums and set the nervous system on edge, so too can music and other gentle sounds, like the ocean or your own heartbeat, enhance deep relaxation, supply you with new energy, stimulate creativity, and even transport you into other states of consciousness. When used consciously, music is a form of healing. So when you are particularly stressed, feeling sick, or in pain (with a backache, arthritis, or a bothersome cold, for instance), try using a little music therapy on yourself. Plants grow better with certain types of music. Why shouldn’t the same be true for you? Lose Yourself in Music
The key to using music for healing is to allow yourself to become part of it. Many people listen to music critically, identifying the interactions of the various instruments or comparing the selection with other pieces. This is listening with the mind, whereas therapeutic listening is done with the whole body. Instead of paying attention with your head, concentrate from somewhere lower in your body. Imagine that your heart is listening; allow your abdomen to be filled with the music; let the music come in through your hands and feet; breathe it. Abandon yourself to the music, as if the sounds were waves or clouds that are carrying you away or supporting you. Depending on the type of music you choose, this method of listening can be either deeply relaxing or highly energizing. Listening with this degree of openness will alter the frequency of your brain waves, your rate of respiration, and your blood pressure. Imagery can be stimulated, memories evoked, emotions released, and tension dissipated. Are you ready to expand your sensory awareness and appreciation of music, or to experience the healing effects? Music and sound-healing expert Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect, suggests that you spend ten minutes of undivided listening time every day for five days.
On the first day, select a piece of your favorite music (something that does not have vocals). Then sit back or lie down and close your eyes. Breathe. Notice whatever you notice.
The second day, as you listen to the same piece, do some ordinary activity like washing dishes or opening your e-mail or writing out checks. The third day, while you listen to the same piece, conduct the music, as if you are a famous maestro. The fourth day, listen to the same piece of music while you eat a meal. On the fifth day, relax the same way you did on day one. Notice the difference in your appreciation or any effect from day one. Other Creative Uses of Sound for Wellness
* Sing. Open your mouth, your eyes, your throat. Sing at the top of your lungs, or quietly hum under your breath. Use singing to lift your spirits and to breathe more fully. Chant or hum to get your energy vibrating. Repeat the same sound or phrase to relax you, raise your consciousness, or reprogram your body with a health-inspiring message.
* Play an instrument. Maybe it’s time to dig out that old guitar, recorder, or drum, or to start taking lessons. For many people, playing music is both a form of releasing energy and relaxing, and a means of creative expression. Drums are particularly good for this and can be used without any instruction. * Listen to natural sounds. Hear the air move through your nostrils as you meditate. Use wind sounds in combination with visualization to help you clear certain conditions, like headaches or a sense of confusion. Use water sounds for encouraging relaxation. The sounds of birds chirping are excellent for inspiring hope and joy. Be creative. Make up your own uses for natural sounds. Build Your Repertoire
Perhaps you have plenty of musical favorites to choose from already, different selections to help you relax or to release built-up frustration. But if you don’t, it may be time to start accumulating a music library of pieces that you can use for winding up or winding down. Many large music stores have a section of New Age instrumental music (also called Ambient or Space music) with a variety of interesting selections. Classical music also offers unending possibilities. See the following resources for some suggestions. Contemporary Audio *
Anugama—Shamanic Dream II
One of the finest examples of healing music to date. Ideal for bodywork or movement.
Bruce BecVar—Forever Blue Sky
Bruce is a guitarist with a naturally commercial sound. His heartfelt guitar playing is augmented by orchestration and other effects that expand the sound of his music. Relaxed yet lively, this recording never gets old. Patrick Bernhardt—Solaris Universalis
Patrick is a well-traveled Canadian artist with a heavenly voice and a gift for universally appealing music. This is his most popular release, with long tracks, multitracked Sanskrit mantras, and a spiritual feeling that is reminiscent of Enya’s music. Robert Haig Coxon—The Silent Path
Recommended to massage practitioners. The combining of gentle keyboards, Tibetan gongs, and orchestral instruments such as oboe and flute make for a deeply moving recording of peaceful music. Jonathan Goldman—The Lost Chord
Deep chant and overtone. Wonderful music for meditation or deep listening, with a Tibetan influence. Based on the extensive training that Goldman has had with lamas from that part of the world. Incantations—Incantations
This CD has probably accompanied numberless human passages: births, deaths, healings, and celebrations. Keyboards, Middle Eastern doumbek rhythms, a jazz bassist/flute player, a percussionist, and two angelic singers join in this musical communion. Deva Premal—The Essence
Beautiful chant recording, mostly sanskrit mantras, such as the "Gayatri Mantra." Deva Premal’s magnificent voice and emotional expression set this apart from the field. Raphael—Music to Disappear In
Neoclassical composing meets shamanic heart rhythms. Can be used for movement, deep listening, massage, and in other inspired settings. Suzanne Sterling—Bhakti
This is chant/world music with original songs sung in English. Suzanne’s superb voice, excellent production, and world music elements from the all-star supporting cast make this a highly popular vocal release. Weave—Cho Ku Rei
This music is designed for Reiki healing and is equally effective for bodywork, meditation, simple relaxation, or nighttime listening. Warm melodies, plenty of space between the musical passages, and an overall sense of wellbeing fill this recording. Classical Audio
Bach—The Six Brandenburg Concertos
Evoke a wide variety of feelings.
Beethoven—Symphony #6 in F, Opus 68 (Pastoral)
Inspirational and soothing. For pure joy, listen to the famous "Ode to Joy" at the end of the Ninth Symphony. Mozart—Jupiter Symphony and Violin Concertos #3 and #5
Almost anything by Mozart is great, but these are particularly magical and joyful. Tchaikovsky—Swan Lake ballet suite and Sleeping Beauty ballet suite.
Dance with your heart. * Music selections for healing and wellness were compiled by Lloyd Barde, Backroads Distributors, Corte Madera, California. For a catalog or to order, call 800-767-4748.
Reprinted ..... from Simply Well by John W. Travis, MD, & Regina Sara Ryan. Copyright 2001. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.
www.tenspeed.com
John W. Travis, M.D., M.P.H., acknowledged as a founder of the wellness movement, established the first wellness center in the U.S. in 1975, and created the Wellness Inventory (the first wellness assessment). He is co-author of the classic Wellness Workbook with Sara Regina Ryan (Ten Speed Press). The online version of the Wellness Inventory may be accessed by individuals at (www.WellPeople.com)
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| | | From: Rene | Sent: 4/6/2007 11:59 PM |
The Healing Chair
Good vibrations. It's far more than the classic lyric from the Beach Boys. It also describes a surprising technology for delivering relaxation and pain relief through specially designed furniture. Developed simultaneously in Scandinavia and the US some 30 years ago, vibroacoustics feature speakers in recliners, mats, mattresses and other types of soft furniture that transmit music and vibrations directly to the body. Unlike massage chairs, which are one-vibration recliners, vibroacoustic equipment features numerous simultaneous vibrations that surround the individual with the soothing effects of the music. Target benefit: Pain and medication reduction. IN SYNC The underlying principle of vibroacoustics is that the body has many of its own pulsing vibrations that maintain key functions -- the heart pumping blood, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract pushing food through the digestive process, the kidneys sending urine on its way -- and that the resonance of vibrations and sound merge with these biological rhythms to promote good health. Vibroacoustic research is still limited, but what does exist is promising. A number of studies, including one by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), whose Clinical Medical Center has used vibroacoustic equipment for more than 10 years, have found that the equipment sharply reduced patients' symptoms of stress and pain. Smaller studies have shown that it calmed Alzheimer's disease patients and autistic children, reduced tension, pain and symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatment, reduced the amount of time patients were in surgery and the number of postoperative medications they needed, and it lessened the pain of arthritis. WHY IT WORKS There are several theories as to why vibroacoustics works. The most widely accepted is that it brings about the "relaxation response," so named by Harvard professor Herbert Benson to describe a mental, physical and emotional state of lowered blood pressure and decreased heart, breathing and metabolic rates. A second theory is that it stimulates certain receptors under the skin and in connective tissue around organs and joints that prompt the brain to inhibit the sensation of pain. And there are researchers who postulate that vibroacoustics might trigger a sort of internal massage that facilitates a cleansing effect on brain cells, although this is still highly speculative, according to music and imagery specialist Chris Brewer, MA, who works with vibroacoustics in institutions around the country. I wondered especially about in-home use of vibroacoustics as a means of offering relief from chronic pain, so I called Brewer to discuss it. She says that the equipment is becoming increasingly popular for in-home use, especially by people who have chronic back pain. A company called Somatron distributes vibroacoustic equipment and now offers a wide range of items for sale to consumers and institutions. These include bean bag chairs, wedge pillows, mats (which Brewer says are popular with physical therapists because they relax patients and thereby facilitate range of motion and treatment), a recliner cushion and chair, mattresses, pillows and other items. Brewer says that the most popular item is the recliner chair. The design places the body in the same position as astronauts are in for blast-off because the particular position puts the least amount of pressure on the body. This equipment is relatively expensive (e.g., nearly $3,000 for the recliner chair, $1,195 for the body pillow and $195 for the headrest), but... it's far cheaper in the long run than pain medication or other medical treatments. PICK YOUR PLAYLIST? Somatrom offers music designed specifically to maximize the quality of vibrations and in turn the experience of relaxation, but Brewer says that you can use any type of music you prefer. (Music is provided through your own sound equipment hooked up by a cable to the speakers in the furniture.) She recalls a group of teens who chose their favorite rock music for use in the mat as they lay on it, and they were delighted with the effect. The amount of time people generally spend in a vibroacoustic session is from 10 to 40 minutes, though 30 minutes is about average. To maximize the benefits of a vibroacoustic session, Brewer advises creating a peaceful setting -- low lights, an area with privacy and few or no competing sounds. As to how long the benefits will stay with you after a session, the answer is that thus far no one really knows. Brewer reminds me, though, that the chair can help people cut down on the amount of painkillers they use and that people using the equipment learn to put themselves in a relaxation mode quickly even when they are in other environments, far from home and their vibroacoustic recliner. For more information on the Somatron Company and its equipment, go to www__.somatron.com. This article from Carole Jackson; Bottom Line's Daily Health News ~ Sources: Easy Chair: Chris Brewer, MA, music and imagery specialist, Bellingham, Washington. {For a great variety of soft music, if you google new age music a list will pop up with quite a number of on line radiostations ~ RM } |
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Sonic Health Boost 13/12/2007:- Cutting edge research reveals how music can help you ease pain, think smarter, feel energized, and fight disease After years of drifting from one ineffective treatment to another, Andrea Bowen is rhapsodic about the one that finally relieved her chronic back problems: music therapy. "It was a godsend," says Bowen, 55, of Weld, ME. "Music helped me relax through the pain. It was really the beginning of a new life for me." As Bowen learned, music offers more than mere entertainment. Exciting new research is showing that good melody makes good medicine —dulling pain, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, boosting mood, and curing insomnia. Today, certified music therapists treat heart disease, asthma, Alzheimer's, and more. But you don't need to study music theory to reap the benefits. Here's how to find harmony between your physical and mental health. In pain? Try music plus guided imagery Simply listening to music for 1 hour a day can ease your pain by 20%, Cleveland Clinic researchers recently found. It can even reduce the need for pain medication before and after surgery. Music seems to stimulate the release of pain-masking endorphins in the brain, says Cheryl Dileo, a music therapy professor and director of the Arts and Quality of Life Research Center at Temple University. Music can also amplify the effects of a visualization exercise called guided imagery, in which patients focus on a specific image or sensation that evokes the emotions they want to feel, says Ronit Azoulay, a music therapist at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Sound Advice To stage your own music-guided imagery session at home, find a comfy chair in a quiet place to sit with your eyes closed and feet up, suggests Joke Brandt, PhD, assistant director of the Arts and Quality of Life Research Center at Temple. If pain is limiting your mobility, select music that makes you feel energetic; if it's interfering with your sleep, choose tunes that make you feel relaxed. Next, think of your favorite place or a calming image, such as a quiet stream or deserted beach, says Brandt. "Focus on your breathing and the sensations in your body. Imagine each of your senses reacting to this favorite place or image—the smells, the sounds, the sights. When these thoughts wander, focus on the music." Once the song stops, don't jump up—sit and relax for another minute or two. Repeat daily. Sleepless? Get in tune with your brain waves Insomniacs who listened to classical piano created in response to their own brain waves �?a technique called Brain Music Therapy �?improved their sleep quality in 4 weeks, found a University of Toronto study. The cutting-edge therapy boosts levels of melatonin, a brain chemical linked to sleep. Sound Advice For $550, you can get your own BMT CD to use at home. It's quick and easy: While you're in a relaxed state, doctors monitor and record your brain waves and then use a computer program to create unique, sleep-inducing piano passages using your own measurements. Listen to your 12-minute loop at bedtime with headphones to drift off into dreamland. "Feeding your brain its own rhythms helps your muscles and breathing relax," says Galina Mindlin, MD, PhD, a supervising attending and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. An easier method: Make music part of your sleep ritual, says Phil Eichling, MD, of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Arizona. Any music you associate with relaxation can help. Want to try something new? Eichling's personal favorites are the Somna sleep-promoting CDs (somna.com), which were developed by a sleep researcher, and albums by flutist R. Carlos Nakai (canyonrecords.com). If possible, use a CD player with a timer so the music shuts off soon after you've fallen asleep. Got the blues? Listen to upbeat songs while you walk Listening to music can ease depression symptoms by up to 25%, Cleveland Clinic senior nurse-researcher Sandra Siedlecki, PhD, recently found. The benefits are physical, too: Focusing on New Age music reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to a recent French study, and research at the University of California, San Diego, revealed that listening to classical music lowered the blood pressure of college students. A Japanese study concluded that your favorite workout tunes can ward off fatigue during exercise (another proven mood-lifter). This has convinced some experts that combining music and exercise is one of the best bulwarks against depression. Sound Advice When trying to cheer up, resist the temptation to wallow in sad songs and choose up-tempo tunes instead, Dileo suggests. Listening for just 10 to 20 minutes undisturbed can boost your mood. Upbeat tunes can also energize you during a workout. Aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio, such as brisk walking, running, or biking, 5 days a week, as that amount can help reduce depression. Make sure the music and exercise rhythms are in sync. For a power workout, try the thunderous album Sai-so: The Remix Project by the Japanese drum group Kodo, recommends Nancy Buttenheim, director of Kripalu DansKinetics Teacher Trainings in Stockbridge, MA. For a gentler workout like tai chi, sample a compilation by the Shanghai Chinese Traditional Orchestra. All are sold at amazon.com and other retailers. "How music is mending me" Christine Horn 58, New York City Diagnosis: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema Rx: Music therapists at Beth Israel Medical Center's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine prescribed singing and recorder playing. "I was skeptical and intimidated," says Horn. "I could hardly talk." But now, when Horn plays the instrument, "I relax and feel my breathing slow down. I can play 'Blue Moon' and sing it, too." Musical Mechanism: Singing or playing wind instruments increases breathing capacity, say music therapists. Woody Geist 82, Rochester, MI Diagnosis: Middle-stage Alzheimer's Rx: Geist sings nearly every day, both on his own and in groups. Music "helps him to connect," says his wife, Rosemary, 79. "It's strange because he can't tell you where things are or what he just did, but he can sing. It gives us a springboard to talk about happy times." Musical Mechanism: Listening to favorite types of music helps Alzheimer's patients recall names, faces, and words, according to a study by Concetta Tomaino, executive director of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function in New York City. The melodies spur memories and help patients rediscover their personality, she says. More Links: World's Best Natural Cures [http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/world-s-best-natural-cures/910fe91b7fd05110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/health/natural.remedies?cm_mmc=MSNCA-_-Sonic%20Health%20Boost-_-Article-_-Worlds%20Best%20Natural%20Cures] Top Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 [http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/top-medical-breakthroughs-of-2007/d2cb318f97546110VgnVCM20000012281eac____/health/healthy.lifestyle/smart.medical.decisions?cm_mmc=MSNCA-_-Sonic%20Health%20Boost-_-Article-_-Top%20Medical%20Breakthroughs%20of%202007] [http://www.medids.com/free-id.php] For the (Health) Record [http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/for-the-health-record/71d9f91d09e36110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/health/healthy.lifestyle/smart.medical.decisions?cm_mmc=MSNCA-_-Sonic%20Health%20Boost-_-Article-_-For%20the%20Health%20Record] sympatico.MSN.ca |
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