Sound Therapy: Exploring an Ancient Practice

Sound therapy, or healing through sound, belongs to a lineage of ancestral practices found across civilizations. Since the beginning of time, humans have intuited that sound vibrations could soothe, transform, and heal.

In my practice, I can see how this ancient heritage still resonates today. Whether through tuning forks, singing bowls, or collective sound baths, these experiences extend a tradition that has stood the test of time.

Sound Therapy Throughout History

Healing with sound has its roots in many ancestral traditions.

• Shamanic cultures used the rhythm of the drum in healing rituals and initiation rites, helping to induce altered states of consciousness.

• In India, mantras were chanted to rebalance vital energies and support healing.

• In Ancient Egypt, instruments such as the sistrum were associated with fertility rituals and the realignment of bodily energies.

• In Ancient Greece, the philosopher Pythagoras saw numbers and musical proportions as a mirror of universal order. For him, music had a therapeutic function, capable of harmonizing body and soul.

The Harmony of the Spheres: Pythagoras’ Legacy

In Ancient Greece, the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras left a lasting mark by directly linking mathematics, music, and health. For him, everything in the universe was governed by numbers and proportions, and each planet and living being emitted its own vibration.

He developed the concept of the “harmony of the spheres”, according to which these invisible frequencies influence the soul and human balance. His disciples used music—particularly the lyre—as a tool for purification and healing, seeking to “re-tune” body and mind as one would tune an instrument.

This pioneering vision foreshadows contemporary sound therapy, which also views the body as a vibratory system that can be harmonized through sound.

Vibrations That Shape Life

The human body can be compared to a great orchestra, where each organ, bone, and tissue plays its own frequency. Together, these vibrations create a global field that reflects our state of health and balance.

Cymatics, developed by Hans Jenny, demonstrated in striking ways how sound vibrations shape matter. On a plate covered with sand or liquid, each frequency generates a distinct geometric pattern—ranging from chaotic forms to highly harmonious structures.

See a cymatics demonstration here.

In the same spirit, Masaru Emoto’s work on water popularized the idea that vibrations (sonic, but also intentional) could influence the structure of water crystals. Although his research does not follow conventional scientific methodology, it offers an inspiring perspective: with over 70% of our body made up of water, we are literally a resonant medium, receptive to sound.

For those interested, here is a video of Masaru Emoto’s experiments.

The Golden Ratio and Music: A Natural Harmony

The proportion of the golden ratio (1.618…) is found not only in nature and architecture, but has also inspired many composers and music theorists. If music is seen as a mathematical language based on frequency ratios, it is no surprise that proportions considered harmonious in the visual world might also resonate in the sonic world.

• Musical composition: Composers such as Béla Bartók and Debussy integrated the golden ratio into their works. For instance, the climax of a piece is sometimes placed around 62% of its duration, corresponding to the golden division, creating a subtle sense of balance unconsciously perceived by listeners as “natural.”

• Interval ratios: Some musicology research suggests that the golden ratio can be approached in certain interval ratios. While not a universal rule, some scales and harmonic progressions appear to lean toward this proportion, producing a sense of harmony that transcends rationality.

From a therapeutic perspective, the golden ratio can also serve as a metaphor: listening to or producing sounds aligned with universal proportions may foster inner resonance—a sense of being in tune with something greater than oneself.

For more, discover this video on the golden ratio and music.

Brainwave Frequencies and Entrainment

States of consciousness are linked to specific brainwave frequency bands:

• Delta (0.5–4 Hz): deep sleep

• Theta (4–8 Hz): relaxation, meditation

• Alpha (8–12 Hz): calm, creativity

• Beta (12–30 Hz): mental activity, focus

• Gamma (30–100 Hz): heightened perception, integration

Sound therapy may encourage synchronization toward desired states (e.g., alpha for calm).

This phenomenon, known as brainwave entrainment, refers to the influence of repetitive sound stimuli on brainwave patterns, facilitating shifts toward relaxation or focused presence.

Modern neuroscience is increasingly exploring how brainwaves can be modulated by sound.

I have dedicated a full article to this scientific aspect of brainwaves—read it here.

Sound Therapy and Emotions

Emotions are also vibrational states. When they stagnate, they create physical and mental tension. Through the resonances it generates, sound therapy acts as a vibrational release, helping to unblock, soothe the mind, reduce stress, and restore emotional balance.

Harmonizing the Body’s Rhythms

The human body is governed by natural rhythms: heartbeat, breathing, visceral movements.

These rhythms, whether voluntary (movement) or involuntary (mobility, motility), can be influenced by sound vibrations.

Sound therapy supports the harmonization of these internal rhythms by stimulating motricity, regulating autonomous mobility, and enhancing the subtle motility of the organs. By restoring balance at these levels, it fosters vitality and overall well-being.

A Resonance Beyond the Session

The effects of a sound bath or a tuning fork session are not limited to the moment itself—or the few minutes immediately afterward. Many testimonies describe improvements in physical signs (relieved tension, easier breathing, faster recovery), as well as better sleep quality lasting up to 24–48 hours afterward.

So far, no scientific study has objectively confirmed the exact duration of these effects. Their prolongation seems closely tied to behavior and context after the session. Exposure to noisy, overstimulating environments (electromagnetic fields, crowds, supermarkets) can “shock” the system and shorten the benefits. In contrast, remaining attuned to oneself, choosing calm or natural settings, staying hydrated, and resting all help anchor and prolong the positive effects.

Conclusion: From Tradition to Science

Rooted in ancient traditions, sound therapy is now drawing increasing interest from researchers, who are beginning to document its effects on anxiety, stress, sleep, and quality of life. While the data is still emerging, the scientific dynamic has begun, and bridges are slowly being built between ancient heritage and modern perspectives.

Sound therapy thus stands at a crossroads: inherited from tradition, enriched by contemporary experience, and now observed through the lens of science.

To explore the research side in greater depth: Sound Baths: What Does Science Say? (article available via this link).