Imagine for a moment that it’s three in the morning. Which sound would you rather hear? The soothing hush of ocean waves lapping at the shore or the incessant barking of the dog next door.
There’s no denying that sound has the ability to dramatically change moods and sense of well-being. Through a process called Acutonics, the use of sound via sonic vibrations is now being harnessed to improve health and well-being by reaching and healing places normally not easily accessible by traditional medicine.
“Acutonics is the perfect solution for people who are looking for the beneficial results of acupuncture but in an alternative, less-invasive method,” said Marta Vergara a licensed acupuncturist who provides Acutonics treatments at Canyon Ranch in Tucson. “Some choose it because they have an aversion to needles. Others choose it because they have an affinity for the healing properties of sound. Regardless of the reason, sound is an outstanding way to heal at a cellular, muscular, emotional and spiritual level. This diverse, multidimensional approach puts us in attunement with the harmonies of the universe, and that is where the true healing begins.”
A sound idea
At the heart of an Acutonics treatment is a series of precisely calibrated tuning forks that emanate a series of natural harmonic vibrations based on the orbital properties of the planets in our solar system. These tuning forks are applied directly to your acupressure points, trigger points, points of pain and chakras to access and open your body’s natural meridians or energy pathways. Applying the forks stimulates and balances the body's energy fields, helping promote inner healing and harmony. The Canyon Ranch treatment takes place in a healing sound-environment created by bells, gongs and drums that support healing and relaxation.
“All atoms produce sound and we’re made up of atoms which means we are sound. This applies to everything that surrounds us. So it stands to reason that Acutonics also connects us with our environment, our souls and each other,” Marta explained. “In our modern life we’re constantly bombarded by white noise, from television, traffic, air conditioners and the mechanized world in general. As a result we loose touch with the natural world. Applying sound reconnects us with the rhythms and cycles of nature and the cosmos.”
Going mainstream
Acutonics may sound new and even odd to you, but the use of sound as a healing force has roots in almost every culture. And it has become increasingly accepted in the medical profession.
“In study after study they are finding that sound has more of an impact on our lives than previously thought. By harnessing that potential, physicians and therapists are discovering this ancient idea of sound healing as if it were new again,” Marta explained.
In a recent New York Times article, Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor, an oncologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, said sound had the ability to significantly reduce stress hormones to keep the heartbeat steady and the breathing slow and deep. The doctor, who is also the author of The Healing Power of Sound, noted the said finding was significant because stress can depress every aspect of the immune system including those that protect us against flu and cancer.
“We’re only beginning to tap the potential of tuning forks and other sound tools designed to help create health and balance,” Marta added. “As the healing nature of sound works its way into mainstream awareness, this ancient form of healing will finally receive the widespread attention it deserves.”