HUM FOR HEALTH

A growing body of medical research is validating the health benefits of singing, chanting, humming and toning. Pamela Miles, an expert in medical applications of Reiki writes:

"Might Reiki be an inaudible hum, akin to the sound of OM, which yogis call the primordial sound of the universe? Might the benefits of Reiki be related to the healing effects of chanting and drones such as the didgeridoo of the Australian aborigine or the tamboura of classical Indian music?

The cross-cultural prevalence of toning in healing and spiritual practices is hard to discount, and it is supported by data from a range of studies.

For example, a UCLA study found that hospitalized schizophrenics who hummed "mmmm" had a 60 percent reduction in auditory hallucinations. Humming creates sound waves that reverberate throughout the sinuses like a subtle inner massage, helping to clear secretions and promote airflow. Humming seems to stimulate the production of nitric oxide, which helps stimulate immune response and regulate blood pressure, and affects communication among brain neurons. Nitric-oxide levels in the sinuses of healthy participants were fifteen times greater when they hummed rather than when they breathed without making noise. Additionally, the benefits of ultrasound are well documented. Clearly vibration has widespread application to healing." Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide, P. 199-200 More research