Why Sound Healing Works

Many people wonder: Why does sound healing work?

Here’s some of the science behind it.

The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body. Starting in the brain and extending down through the throat, heart, lungs, and digestive organs, it’s the main regulator of the parasympathetic nervous system—the system responsible for rest, repair, and restoring balance after stress. A healthy “vagal tone” (the strength of this nerve’s response) is linked with strong immunity, emotional stability, good digestion, and overall well-being.

Here’s where sound comes in. The vagus nerve connects to structures in the ear, including the eardrum and middle ear muscles. When sound vibrations enter the ear, they indirectly stimulate the vagus nerve—sending calming signals throughout the entire body.

Long, sustained tones—like those created by crystal bowls, gongs, and other sound healing instruments—tend to activate a relaxation response, while sharp or abrupt sounds activate the body’s stress response. This is why I use shakers and rattles at the end of a sound bath, rather than in the middle -- because if I'd include those in the middle, it would tend to arouse your nervous system, rather than deepen your relaxation. Shakers are great for helping you come out of relaxation, back into your day or evening.

One of the reasons why Soundbaths feel so immediately soothing, is that the gentle resonance of crystal bowls doesn’t just “relax you”—it literally communicates with your nervous system, shifting you out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of restoration. Research also shows that auditory stimulation of the vagus nerve quiets the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center, helping reduce anxiety, calm the mind, and create space for emotional healing.

Even your own voice can have this effect. Simple practices like humming or toning vowels stimulate the vagus nerve naturally, producing the same calming response that medical devices try to achieve with artificial vagus nerve stimulation—only here, it happens organically.

I love to offer sound healing in the nurturing environment of Maui, where the ocean and island itself hum with natural frequency. Soundbaths amplify the healing available from the natural world, and lying on the earth brings the additional quality of "earthing".

The vibrations ripple through the nervous system, entraining body and mind back into harmony. This is why sound healing isn’t just relaxing—it’s profoundly therapeutic.

Visit my soundbath page here, to book a group experience, or contact me to book a private sound healing on the island of Maui at your convenience. I also offer sound baths for your retreats and corporate events.