Evidence-Based Research
Do you need a facilitator for your research proposals? Please contact me! I want to help contribute to further study of the positive influence of Himalayan Singing Bowls (as well as gong, ting-sha, tuning forks, and drums) on the body, the biofield, the vagus nerve, and the autonomic nervous system.
Singing bowl relaxation therapy research with Suren Shrestha (Founder, Atma Buti® Sound & Vibrational School).
My Research:
I’m currently collecting data using a Muse 2 EEG Headband, a Berrcom non-contact digital thermometer, and a Oximeter Plus C21 finger oximeter to track pulse, oxygen levels, and brainwave activity during sound therapy sessions.
What have I found so far? Here’s a rough summary of my first 22 case studies:
Participants: Male - 4 (18.8%) / Female - 18 (81.8%) / Other - 0 (0%)
Average Age: 39.7 years old
Average Initial Pulse (beats per minute): 77.2 bpm
Average Post-session Pulse: 57.2 bpm (20-point drop). Honorable Mention: largest dip in pulse was 38 bpm!
Average Initial Oxygen level (SpO2%): 97.8%
Average Post-session Oxygen level: 88.4% (9.4% dip)
The data shows singing bowl relaxation therapy has the potential for reducing your "fight or flight" mode so your mind/body/soul can experience a necessary shift to relax, restore, and recharge. Most everyone experiences a drop in their pulse of about 20 bpm, which is generally reached after 20-30 minutes and lasts the duration of the session. Consistent dip in oxygen levels may be a reflection of shallower breathing during restful sleep states associated with theta and delta brain wave activity.
“Mind Monitor” app during singing bowl relaxation therapy.
Published Studies in the field:
“Sound Healing: Mood, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being Interrelationships.”
Religions Journal, Vol. 13, 123 (2022).
Dr. Tamara Goldsby
“The present observational study examines the effect of singing-bowl sound healing on emotional and spiritual well-being and particularly examines interrelationships between changes in spiritual well-being with changes in tension and depressed mood post-sound healing…Results revealed significant correlations between improvements in scores of spiritual well-being and reductions in scores of tension and depression post-sound healing. Moreover, effects varied by age of the study participants. Specifically, the association between spiritual well-being improvement and depression improvement was strongest for ages 31–40, while spiritual well-being improvement and tension improvement associations were strongest for ages 51–60. Implications for applying sound healing meditations as a potential low-cost, low-technology therapeutic technique are discussed for emotional and spiritual well-being.”
“Eastern Integrative Medicine and Ancient Sound Healing Treatments for Stress: Recent Research Advances.”
Integrative Medicine. Vol. 19, No. 6 (December 2020).
Dr. Tamara Goldsby
Abstract: “Eastern integrative medicine includes centuries-old practices and treatments which have quite recently garnered significant attention in Western society. Numerous traditional medicine techniques such as yoga, sound healing, Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, and acupuncture have recently been studied in relation to their potential for reduction of human chronic stress, a widespread societal health problem. These ancient treatments present considerable potential for stress reduction globally. Thus, the present authors recommend that substantial resources be devoted to the study of these practices as potential tools for stress reduction and improvement in public health.”
“A Comparative Study of the Impact of Himalayan Singing Bowls and Supine Silence on Stress Index and Heart Rate Variability.”
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Mental Health. Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2019).
Dr. Gunjan Trivedi
“Conclusion: The study confirms that singing bowls sessions can be leveraged as a tool for inducing good quality relaxation response (increased parasympathetic tone, reduced stress) to facilitate healing and energy recovery in just 20 minutes and achieve significant health benefits. More comprehensive studies must be conducted to further evaluate the findings with more sample size, different methods of relaxation and varied demographics”
“Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: an observational study.”
Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. Vol. 22, Issue 3 (2017).
Dr. Tamara Goldsby
“In summary, this observational study found significant beneficial effects of Tibetan singing bowl meditations on a number of markers related to well-being. Future randomized control trials are warranted to further examine the effects of these meditations on mood, well-being, and physical pain. In addition, future research could explore the meditation’s effects on various age groups in more depth.”
“Feasibility of a trial with Tibetan Singing Bowls, and suggested benefits in metastatic cancer patients. A pilot study in an Italian Oncology Unit.”
Bidin, Livia, et. al. European Journal of Integrative Medicine Vol. 8 Issue 5 (2016).
“Conclusion: The feasibility endpoints (acceptance, attendance and compliance) were achieved; personalized programs should be offered to patients at risk of rapid worsening conditions and to subjects affected by bone metastases. A visual tool for subjective distress appears more appropriate than validated questionnaires. Useful tools for collection of objective data are SCL, HRV, and anterio-frontal EEG. Tibetan Bowls decrease anxiety, arousal, involuntary mental activity and stress. Larger trials should confirm these results.”
“Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Himalayan Singing Bowl in Meditation Practice: A Quantitative Analysis.”
American Journal of Health Promotion. Vol. 8, Issue 5 (2014).
Dr. Jayan Landry
“Conclusions: BP [blood pressure] and HR [heart rate] responses were enhanced by HSB [Himalayan Singing Bowl] exposure. HSB may be used as an adjunct to DR [directed relaxation] to produce physiological and psychological responses prior to DR.”
“Humming Greatly Increases Nasal Nitric Oxide.”
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Vol. 166 (2002).
E. Weitzberg and J. Lundberg
“Humming caused a 15-fold increase in nasal NO compared with quiet exhalation…This effect is likely due to increased contribution of NO from the paranasal sinuses. Humming causes the air to oscillate, which in turn seems to increase the exchange of air between the sinuses and the nasal cavity. “
Nitric Oxide (NO) is strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Humming has the potential to boost the body’s immune system through the release of NO in the sinuses and nasal cavity, ameliorating symptoms of conditions like sinusitis and potentially COVID-19.