Brainwave Entrainment

Sound healing is a growing area of complementary therapy. Although there are many variations, my favorite is the use of Binaural Records, using Binaural Beats (also called Brainwave Entrainment). Like hypnosis, it is based on psychology and neuroscience rather than mysticism.

Binaural Beats are sounds that are listened to with headphones, and provide an excellent method of self hypnosis (click here to open a new window about self-hypnosis). If you are familiar with self hypnosis you will already be aware of what can be accomplished in the right states of mind. Goal setting, positive motivation, confidence building, deep relaxation, focused symptom removal, boost your immune system, the list is endless. Binaural records are a guide to accessing the higher awarenesses, allowing exploration of:

• intuition
• insight
• creativity
• imagination
• understanding
• thought
• reasoning
• intent
• decisions
• knowing
• will
• spirit
• soul

After a session of 15 minutes or more, listeners of Binaural Records report feeling refreshed, light, calm and clear-minded. Listening to the Binaural Beats for 30 minutes each day, particularly when combined with active goal setting and visualization, can result in noticeably positive life changes. Results of sound healing can also be enhanced by combining the binaural record with:

• Music (played through another system)
• White noise (played through an untuned radio)
• Your own relaxation or self hypnosis techniques
• Guided Imagery techniques
• Breathing techniques
• Humming / toning
• Physical exercise
• Autogenic training
• Detailed visualization of goals to program the subconscious

How do Binaural Records work?

Binaural Records work by influencing the frequency of brainwaves (click here to open a new window about brainwaves) using a natural process known as the frequency following response (FFR). This is the tendency for brainwaves to resonate at the same frequency as an outside source, here provided by the binaural beats. After 5 minutes of listening to Binaural Records, EEG recordings show that vast areas of the brain can resonate and synchronize to the frequency, creating changes of awareness. The frequency following response is a common finding in physics (think of tuning forks!) and electromagnetic brainwaves are no exception.

On Binaural Records, the beats are generated from two tones of varying pitches presented to each ear. As they combine, the difference in pitch is percieved within the mind as a single third frequency. This then begins to influence the surrounding brain frequencies, leading to alterations in awareness.

Whilst Binaural Records can be excellent for insomnia, they are different from normal relaxation CDs. You don’t fall asleep unless you choose to (and are listening to the right frequencies). Your awarenesses can increase and expand, giving you an unknown clarity of calm thought. You’re free to explore issues, make good decisions, make goals, and program your mind in whatever way you want. The natural restorative powers of theta rhythms are particularly excellent.