Music Therapy and Brainwave Entrainment

The earliest record of the healing power of music appears in the bible.
David, a skilled musician, cured King Saul’s depression through music.
After World War I, musicians attended hospitals to play for the veterans
who had suffered physical and emotional trauma. Using sound as therapy
can provide relieve for a variety of issues including sleep disorders,
anxiety, depression, PTSD, and pain management.

Brainwaves are produced by electrical pulses from neurons communicating with each
other. They are detected by an electroencephalogram (EEG) from sensors
placed on the scalp. There are four main brainwaves. Delta (1–4 Hz,
dominant during deep sleep, coma, and anesthesia), theta (4–8 Hz,
observed in drowsiness and the states of meditation), alpha (8–13 Hz,
predominant in the awake-resting state, either relaxed or comfortable)
and beta (more than 13 Hz, awake-state, and caused by stress, strong
emotions, and tension). Brainwave entrainment refers to the hypothesized
capacity of the brainwave synchronize its frequencies with the rhythm
of external stimuli, such as music. It is possible to shift our normal
beta state (stress, reacting) to alpha (relaxed), and even theta
(meditative state) and delta (deep sleep). Studies find that music of
binaural beats boost sleep-promoting hormones, reduce different forms of
anxiety, and also reduce perceptions of pain.

Dr. Yu Kang @Medical Acupuncture Nutrition 2786 North Decatur Rd, Suite 220, Decatur, Ga, 30033 Tel: 404-294-6284 www.medicalacupuncturenutritio...