Additionally, the form asked if they were currently experiencing any physical pain or discomfort. Participants completed standardized questionnaires prior to and following the meditation, including the short from of the Profile of Mood States (POMS-SF) 18 to assess tension, anger and confusion, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) 19 to assess depressed mood and anxiety, and the 10-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-SP) 20 to assess spiritual well-being.Īdditionally, prior to the meditation, participants completed a demographic questionnaire which included questions regarding any prior experience with meditation or singing bowls, substance use, medications, and over-the-counter or herbal supplements. The purpose of the present study was to further advance research in this area by examining the possible effects of singing bowls and sound healing on mood, anxiety, physical pain, and spiritual well-being, and to lay the foundation for a future more formal randomized control trial. The authors reported that this combination of healing methods may be a catalyst for emotional and psychological healing in counseling sessions. 17 The bowls were used in a psychotherapy model in combination with deep breathing, visualization, and a loving kindness meditation. 14 – 16 In one study, singing bowls were used for emotional healing with high-risk youth as part of what was termed the best self-visualization method. The majority of singing bowl studies relate to the physics of these musical instruments, including the sonic and wave properties, as well as attempting to model the singing bowl’s acoustic characteristics. While sound healing is not a new concept, there is a paucity of research in areas such as Tibetan or quartz crystal singing bowls. 13 Tibetan singing bowls are metal bowls usually consisting of a combination of metal alloys and originally used by Tibetan monks for spiritual ceremonies. 12 Ancient instruments have also been used for religious and spiritual ceremonies such as Tibetan (also called “Himalayan”) singing bowls. Australian aboriginal tribes have used the didgeridoo as a sound healing instrument for over 40 000 years. Sound healing has been used for centuries and been utilized in various forms by cultures the world over, including native peoples. The authors set out to examine the possibility that merely lying down and listening to the high-intensity, low-frequency combination of singing bowls, gongs, and bells in a sound meditation could induce a deep relaxation response and positively affect mood and sense of well-being. Thus, a form of relaxation and stress relief that does not require a steep learning curve or a great deal of discipline to utilize could potentially be a huge benefit to human wellness and health. 9 – 11 As promising as mindfulness and other meditation systems may be, a common complaint is the time, patience, and discipline required to learn meditation. 7, 8 The relaxation response is the body’s physiological response in relaxation, including lowered blood pressure to counter the fight-or-flight response and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. 1 – 6 Meditation, including systems such as mindfulness-based meditations, has shown promise in inducing the relaxation response and helping alleviate anxiety and improve well-being. Heart disease, diabetes, addiction, and mental health issues have all been linked to stress and tension. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation. Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. Feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants ( P <. Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation ( P <. ![]() ![]() As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. ![]() This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease.
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