How relaxing does a nice bath sound? Pretty great, right? Well, it turns out that soaking in a warm tub of water might not be the only beneficial bath out there.

Today, we’re talking about sound baths, a type of sound-driven meditation.  

Practitioners (and devotees) say that sound baths help to correct energy blockages in the body, leading to the possibility of relief from pain, anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, and beyond.

All that from listening to sounds and vibrations? 

That doesn’t sound particularly scientific, does it?

Is there any evidence that sound baths can in fact lead to measurable benefits?

Let’s investigate!

What We Know

First up, what actually is a sound bath? (Nope, no water involved.) Sound baths feature soothing sounds from instruments such as singing bowls, chimes, tuning forks, and sometimes the human voice. 

However, there’s no melody or rhythm like what we normally consider “music.” 

Instead, a sound bath is all about generating long, resonating sound waves and deep vibrations that can be felt in the body.

Sound baths are supposed to be relaxing and help restore a sense of calm in your body. This is especially promising for people struggling with mental health. Researchers have found that sound baths can indeed help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. 

One small study found that participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depression after sound therapy with singing bowls.¹ 

The sounds of Tibetan singing bowls were found to help quell pre-surgery anxiety for patients in another study.² 

A review of small, peer-reviewed studies found that participants reported improvements in distress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, tension, anger, and confusion after taking part in a sound bath. Just as interesting, physical improvements (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate) were noted as well.³ 

Although sound baths haven’t been studied extensively, they are similar to music therapy. And, at this point, the benefits of music therapy are widely accepted. Music therapy has been shown to help with autism, depression, heart conditions, and substance abuse.⁴

What We’re Still Learning

We may view them as trendy new offerings at yoga studios, but sound baths have long, deep roots. The concept of soothing and healing the human body through sound waves has spanned cultures and centuries. 

Something as simple as the “Om” chant used by monks during meditation, for example, is sound therapy.

The ancient Greeks used sound vibrations to treat various ailments, and instruments like the didgeridoo and Tibetan singing bowls were also used for their resonating vibrations. Also, think of the drumming and chanting of Indigenous American rituals.

Despite these ancient roots, scientific evidence on sound benefits is scarce. One possible reason is that the purported healing effects of sound baths are based on a similar theory as acupuncture. Both are intended to impact the flow of energy in the body. 

However, these remedies are difficult to prove with scientific evidence, because the perceptions of energy (and pain) are very difficult to measure. Ultimately, however, your own experience with energy (and pain) might matter more to you than whether science can explain it. 

While we await more science, you should know there’s at least one form of proven Western medicine therapy that also relies on sound waves: ultrasound therapy, which is successfully used for such things as breaking up kidney stones.

WARNING:

Generally, sound baths are a safe practice. But some people should avoid them. For example, if you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t have singing bowls placed on your body. And neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, don’t always mesh well with sound baths. Similarly, people with certain medical devices should avoid sound baths. If you have any questions about whether or not sound baths are safe for you, please check with your doctor.

The Bottom Line

The benefits of meditation are well-recognized. And for those who struggle with traditional meditation, sound baths can be an excellent way to get that meditative experience. 

The vibrations and frequencies played during a sound bath are meant to be felt within the body and help draw your attention away from your thoughts.

At a minimum, most people report leaving a sound bath feeling restored and recharged. And, there aren’t many reasons to not try a sound bath. 

How do I get started?