Music and healing have a long-standing relationship, dating back through history with numerous examples of music being utilized as medicine and therapy.
In ancient Greece, music served to ease stress, promote sleep, and soothe pain. Native Americans and Africans incorporated singing and chanting into their healing rituals, and even in Chinese culture, the character for medicine includes the character for music, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between music and healing.
While this connection experienced a separation as the science of medicine took precedence over the art of medicine, in recent decades, the bond has been rekindled and strengthened.
Music has emerged as a complementary treatment for various conditions, ranging from Alzheimer's disease to chronic pain and anxiety. In the 1980s, researchers delved into how music influences the cardiovascular system, uncovering its potential to lower blood pressure and aid in better blood flow.
The intersection of music and healing continues to evolve, with ongoing research shedding light on the profound impact music can have on our well-being. As we rediscover the therapeutic power of music, we come to appreciate how this ancient healing art can harmoniously complement modern medical approaches.
Lowering Blood Pressure with Music Therapy
We know that uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke and can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke (1).
A study reported in Heart, a British Medical Journal publication, showed that listening to fast music increases blood pressure, whereas listening to slower music has the opposite effect. Randomly introducing a pause into the music lowers blood pressure even further. These effects are particularly marked in people who have had musical training (2).
That might seem like a pretty obvious outcome, but it has positive implications for lowering blood pressure, as the following studies demonstrated:
- At Massachusetts General Hospital, a nurse-led team found that heart patients confined to bed who listened to music for 30 minutes had lower blood pressure, slower heart rates, and less distress than those who didn't listen to music.
- At the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, researchers measured blood flow through the forearm (a stand-in for blood vessel health) as healthy volunteers listened to music or relaxation tapes. Blood flow increased significantly while the volunteers listened to music that evoked joy or to relaxation tapes, and decreased while they listened to music that provoked anxiety.
- In a study from Hong Kong, older volunteers who listened to relaxing music for 25 minutes a day for four weeks lowered their systolic pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 12 points and their diastolic pressure (the bottom number) by 5 points, while a control group that didn't listen to music had no change in blood pressure. (3)
Research also demonstrates that music has beneficial effects in the reduction of Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) in a variety of clinical settings such as the pre-operative setting and the ICU. These physiological changes may be the result of and/or aid in the relief of patient anxiety. (4)”
When you combine relaxing music therapy with meditation, the benefits can be further enhanced, as studies suggest that meditation can also help with blood pressure:
- In a two-year study involving 56 adults in Northeast Ohio. Study participants who practiced mindfulness meditation had significant decreases in blood pressure measurements compared with participants who received another therapy, progressive muscle relaxation (5).
- Another study concluded that meditation may serve as a promising alternative approach for lowering both SBP and DBP (6).
Our Lower Blood Pressure program combines the therapeutic effects of relaxing music with the benefits of meditation through brainwave entrainment.
How the Blood Pressure Meditation Works
Incorporating a carefully crafted soundscape that induces deep relaxation, we use Alpha binaural beats frequencies at 10.5 Hz . This specific frequency is associated with the circulatory system, particularly benefiting the blood and heart, leading to a lowering of blood pressure. Additionally, it is linked to the heart Chakra and the support of recovery and healing.
For those acquainted with the ancient healing scale (Solfeggio), the music is tuned to 285 Hz, said to promote healing and restoration, positively influencing overall health and well-being by rejuvenating the mind and body.
The Lower Blood Pressure meditation offers a soothing and natural approach to assist in lowering blood pressure, particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with hypertension. All you need to do is sit back, put on your headphones, and press play to embark on this calming journey towards better health.
Download your copy to get started now.
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Please note: As per our disclaimer, the Blood Pressure Meditation should not be considered a replacement for medical advice or treatment.
