Research and clinical practice increasingly point to music and sound-based techniques as complementary approaches for reducing anxiety, influencing pain perception and helping the nervous system shift toward a calmer physiological state.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Music and sound are increasingly being incorporated into therapeutic settings as complementary tools for anxiety, chronic pain, stress and other conditions, with research suggesting they can influence heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, muscle tension, brain activity and the way pain is perceived.
A July 18, 2026, report by The Epoch Times examined how techniques once more commonly associated with relaxation or alternative practices are finding a place alongside conventional care. Practitioners interviewed for the report included board-certified music therapist Cara Gelderblom, licensed psychologist Michele Leno and Saxon Spa Sandhurst manager Danielle Hofmann-Snell.
The underlying concept extends beyond simply finding music enjoyable. Sound can produce measurable physiological responses, according to the report, potentially slowing heart rate, reducing stress hormones and altering the nervous system’s response to discomfort.
That connection is particularly relevant to chronic pain because the experience of pain is not determined solely by an injured or painful part of the body. Brain activity, emotional state and psychological factors can affect how strongly physical pain is experienced.
Earlier research on music and pain management has similarly found that appropriate music can slow respiration and heart rate, decrease blood pressure and muscle tension, influence brainwave activity and reduce perceptions of pain. One proposed mechanism involves the release of endorphins, the body’s naturally occurring pain-modulating chemicals.
Sound may also influence the nervous system by encouraging the brain to enter activity patterns associated with relaxation.
Electroencephalogram research cited in the report found increased delta and theta brainwave activity during exposure to singing bowls. Theta waves, generally measured between 4 and 8 hertz, are commonly associated with meditation and lighter stages of sleep, while delta activity below 4 hertz is associated with deep sleep.
Researchers and practitioners have also examined whether vibration from sound can stimulate the vagus nerve, which plays an important role in the parasympathetic nervous system. Activation of that system helps the body transition away from the heightened physiological state associated with fight-or-flight responses and toward rest and recovery.
Earlier research into music therapy has reported related effects on brainwave patterns, mood, stress and anxiety. Music-based interventions have also been used to reduce pain and anxiety by affecting physiological functions including respiration and blood pressure.
Although music therapy and sound healing are sometimes discussed interchangeably, the report emphasized that they represent different approaches.
Music therapy is a structured clinical intervention conducted by a trained music therapist and designed around specific therapeutic goals and a patient’s individual needs.
A therapist may use singing, instruments, listening exercises, songwriting or other forms of musical participation depending on the person being treated and the desired outcome.
Sound healing is typically less clinical and more passive. Practices such as sound baths and singing-bowl sessions generally emphasize relaxation, awareness and personal well-being without requiring a diagnosis or a defined medical treatment objective.
Other descriptions of the distinction have similarly characterized music therapy as a professional intervention delivered by board-certified practitioners, sometimes incorporating live musical performance, while sound healing may rely on rhythmic drumming, chanting or recordings designed to encourage relaxation, balance or a sense of well-being.
Evidence cited in the report suggests that structured music therapy may have measurable effects on both pain and emotional health.
A review of nine high-quality studies found associations between music therapy and reduced pain as well as improvements in depression. Sessions lasting approximately 20 minutes appeared to provide particularly favorable results, with benefits stronger when participants selected music themselves, played instruments or listened using headphones.
Music therapy is believed to engage areas of the brain involved in emotion and mood while promoting chemicals including dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin.
Gelderblom described adapting musical interventions to the individual rather than relying on a standardized playlist. Depending on a patient’s needs, she may play live guitar, use a favorite pop song or improvise music during a session to stimulate the nervous system and engage the mind.
Sound baths represent a more passive application.
Hofmann-Snell described her spa’s sound-healing sessions as combining sound with gentle somatic practices intended to reconnect participants with physical sensations, reduce tension and increase awareness of the present moment.
Some participants report better sleep, greater emotional clarity and a renewed sense of calm and concentration afterward, according to Hofmann-Snell.
Leno similarly said the mind and body respond to sound vibrations in ways that can encourage relaxation.
Another developing area is vibroacoustic therapy, in which low-frequency sound vibrations are physically delivered to the body. Researchers are exploring the approach as a sensory intervention for people with autism.
Early research cited in the report suggests that low-frequency vibration may influence muscle tone, blood pressure and heart rate.
The exploration of sensory therapies comes as researchers increasingly examine autism as involving interconnected neurological, sensory and physiological systems rather than behavioral symptoms alone. Research has identified relationships involving sensory processing, sleep, the digestive system and brain function, contributing to interest in broader approaches to care.
Some sound-healing theories go considerably further, proposing that sound waves can directly influence individual physical structures within the body. That concept is sometimes described as cymatics or cymatic therapy, although such approaches remain distinct from established clinical music therapy and require additional scientific validation.
For most people interested in using sound for relaxation, the report described much simpler options that do not require specialized equipment or formal therapy.
Listening to calming music or soundscapes, using guided sound meditation, combining music with slow breathing exercises and playing white noise or another consistent sound at bedtime can all be incorporated into everyday routines.
Hofmann-Snell recommended creating small periods of intentional quiet and relaxation consistently rather than depending exclusively on occasional sound-healing sessions.
Leno said sound can also complement other approaches to managing anxiety or improving sleep. She described personally using the sound of a fan to sleep more effectively and reduce anxiety.
Such practices may provide the nervous system with another signal that conditions are safe enough for the body to relax.
The report did not characterize music or sound therapy as replacements for conventional medical or psychological care. Instead, the techniques were presented as complementary tools that can be incorporated alongside established treatment when appropriate.
Supporters say consistent use may contribute not only to relaxation but also to better sleep, healthier eating patterns and improved resilience in dealing with everyday stress.
Interest in the broader relationship between biological systems and frequencies has also grown outside conventional clinical research. Discussions have expanded into questions about electromagnetism, wireless communications and increasing environmental exposure to electromagnetic fields, although those subjects involve different forms of energy and should not be treated as equivalent to therapeutic sound.
The emerging research surrounding music and sound therefore spans a broad range of practices, from professionally delivered music therapy to simple household strategies such as calming music, breathing exercises or a nighttime sound machine.
While the strength of evidence varies substantially depending on the particular intervention, the accumulated research suggests that sound can affect physiological and psychological processes involved in stress, anxiety and pain. For many people, that may make carefully selected music or sound a practical addition to broader efforts to calm the nervous system and support well-being.
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