There is actually a very rich history of using sound for healing properties going back thousands of years. Modern science is only rediscovering what the ancients knew already.

Summary from Grok (You probably can use Google as well):

The use of sound for healing disease, often referred to as sound therapy or vibrational medicine, has a long history that spans cultures and centuries. While modern science is still exploring its efficacy, sound has been used in various forms for therapeutic purposes, rooted in the belief that vibrations and frequencies can influence physical, mental, and spiritual health. Below is a concise history of sound healing, focusing on its use for addressing disease or promoting wellness:

Ancient and Traditional Practices

Prehistoric and Indigenous Cultures (Prehistory–Present): Archaeological evidence suggests that ancient cultures used sound, such as drumming and chanting, in rituals for healing. For example, shamans in indigenous traditions across Africa, the Americas, and Australia used rhythmic drumming, rattles, and vocalizations to enter trance states, believed to facilitate spiritual and physical healing.

Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 BCE): Egyptians used sound in temple rituals, employing instruments like sistrums and chants to invoke divine healing. The concept of harmony was tied to health, with sound believed to restore balance to the body.

Ancient Greece (c. 500 BCE): Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher, explored the therapeutic effects of music, suggesting that specific musical modes could harmonize the body and soul. He reportedly used “musical medicine” to treat physical and emotional ailments. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, also referenced music’s calming effects on patients.

Indian Vedic Traditions (c. 1500 BCE–Present): In Ayurveda, sound in the form of mantras (sacred chants) and ragas (musical scales) was used to balance the body’s energies (doshas). The chanting of specific syllables, like “Om,” was believed to resonate with the body’s vibrational frequencies to promote healing.

Tibetan and Himalayan Practices (c. 8th Century CE–Present): Tibetan monks used singing bowls, bells, and chants in meditative practices to promote physical and spiritual well-being. The vibrations from these instruments were thought to align the body’s energy centers (chakras).

Medieval and Early Modern Periods

Medieval Europe (5th–15th Century): Gregorian chants in Christian monasteries were used for spiritual healing, believed to calm the mind and body. Music was also employed in early hospitals to soothe patients.

Islamic Golden Age (8th–13th Century): Scholars like Al-Farabi wrote about the therapeutic effects of music, integrating it into medical practices. Hospitals in the Islamic world often used music to treat mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

Modern Developments

19th Century: The scientific study of sound’s effects on the body began to emerge. Neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot and others explored music’s impact on neurological conditions. The idea of resonance and vibration started to gain traction in medical contexts.

Early 20th Century: With advancements in acoustics, researchers began studying how sound waves affect biological tissues. In the 1920s, Royal Raymond Rife, an American inventor, claimed that specific frequencies could destroy pathogens, though his “Rife machine” remains controversial and lacks scientific validation.

Mid-20th Century: Music therapy emerged as a formal discipline, particularly after World War II, when musicians played for veterans to alleviate trauma-related symptoms. This led to the establishment of music therapy programs to treat mental health disorders and chronic pain.



Contemporary Practices

Late 20th–21st Century: Sound therapy gained popularity in alternative medicine. Techniques like binaural beats, tuning forks, and gong baths became common in holistic wellness. Practitioners claim these methods can reduce stress, improve immune function, and alleviate symptoms of chronic conditions, though rigorous scientific evidence is limited.

Ultrasound in Medicine (1940s–Present): The most scientifically validated use of sound for healing is ultrasound, which uses high-frequency sound waves for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic purposes, such as breaking up kidney stones, promoting tissue repair, and treating musculoskeletal disorders.

Cymatics and Vibrational Medicine: Cymatics, the study of visible sound vibrations, has inspired modern sound healers to explore how frequencies can influence cellular health. While promising, these claims often lack peer-reviewed studies.

Current Research: Recent studies have explored low-frequency sound for pain management, stress reduction, and neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease. For example, vibroacoustic therapy, which uses low-frequency sound to stimulate the body, has shown potential in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia and anxiety.

Cultural and Scientific Context

While ancient and traditional practices often attributed sound’s healing effects to spiritual or energetic principles, modern science focuses on measurable physiological responses, such as how sound influences the nervous system, heart rate, or brainwave activity. Despite its long history, sound therapy for disease remains a blend of empirical tradition and emerging science, with mainstream medicine cautiously integrating techniques like music therapy while remaining skeptical of unproven claims.

If you’d like me to dive deeper into a specific era, culture, or modern application (e.g., ultrasound or music therapy research), or if you want me to search for recent studies or posts on X about sound healing, let me know!