Dr. David Orman

Welcome to Ask Me Anything Wednesday.

Today’s question comes from Kellie from Moab, UT:

Sound healing sounds mystical. Is there actual science behind it?

Yes. What many people assume is mystical actually has a strong foundation in science, particularly in physics, neuroscience, and integrative medicine. Everything in your body vibrates. Your cells, tissues, and even your emotions carry measurable frequencies. When you’re stressed, sick, or emotionally overwhelmed, those natural frequencies can fall out of sync. Sound healing works by using specific tones to bring your body back into alignment. It’s similar to tuning a musical instrument. Studies have shown that exposure to certain frequencies can lower stress hormones, regulate heart rate, and activate the body’s relaxation response.

Brain imaging tools like MRI and EEG reveal that sound directly influences brain function. One popular method, binaural beats, uses two slightly different tones in each ear to create a pulsing effect inside the brain. This technique has been shown to reduce anxiety, sharpen focus, and improve sleep. In hospitals and therapy settings, music and frequency-based therapies are now being used to help manage pain, support recovery, and ease depression. Even NASA has studied how sound frequencies influence cellular repair and growth in space.

Another important concept behind sound healing is entrainment. This is the natural tendency of biological systems to sync with external rhythms. Your heart rate can align with a steady drumbeat. Your breath can fall into rhythm with a chant. Even your brainwaves can begin to mirror certain tones. Through this process, sound becomes more than a sensory experience. It becomes a direct way to influence the body’s inner balance, restore harmony, and support healing.