The Effects Of Nature Sounds On Our Well-being

We have all heard about and even experienced for ourselves what nature can do for us. What’s better than going outside and taking in a deep breath of fresh air on a stressful day? Or going for a stroll along the beachfront, taking in the peaceful sounds of the sea crashing? The fact is, nature sounds have been scientifically proven to benefit human beings and this should really be no surprise. The sounds of ongoing construction, traffic, and busy city life are draining and mentally put a strain on us.

So, how beneficial are the sounds of nature? How do they impact the body? What impact do they have on your mental health? Can you use the sounds of nature to lower anxiety and treat depression? We are going to be referring mostly to audio recordings of natural sounds. But, naturally, if you do want to go and sit on the beach, listening to the crash of the waves, or sit next to that river, do so. Not only will you be getting sunlight and fresh air, but the sounds of everything else around you will also benefit you. So, let’s delve right in!

Proven benefits of the sounds of nature

Luckily, over the last few decades, more and more research has gone into the benefits and results of natural therapies. In the past, research overlooked natural therapies like light therapy, sound therapy, or dance therapy. Science shunned the more natural therapies and rather focussed on synthetic treatments. But, slowly, this has all started to change. Things have slowly shifted toward the natural ways of healing both our bodies and our minds. One of these options is sound therapy. But, what is sound therapy and how does it work?

What is sound therapy?

Sound therapy is the use of sound, music, and special instruments which are played in therapeutic ways. It combines the use of music with deep self-reflection techniques to improve health and wellbeing. It has been shown to affect physiology, neurology, and psychology with a form of reflective inquiry. There are many options when it comes to sound therapy and different instruments that can be used. The two main categories are delivered using tonal and rhythmic instruments as well as voice.

When we talk about tonal instruments, we talk about Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, gongs, and tuning forks. Vocal techniques, on the other hand, are toning (the singing of one tone – usually using a vowel sound), overtoning (a technique where more than one tone is sung simultaneously), or mantra (the chanting of Sanskrit words. Think of that “Ohm” noise you make while meditating or doing yoga. That falls under this category.

Sound therapy and music therapy are excellent for treating changes in the body, calming stress, and helping with any forms of pain. A sound bath, which makes use of these instruments or voices is a meditative experience where you are literally “bathed” in sound waves. Take the Tibetan singing bowls, for example. These are often used to restore the normal vibrational frequency of the body because of the wide range of sounds they produce.

Studies show that when people are regularly exposed to particular sounds at certain frequencies, their stress levels drop. They also experience a sense of healing and less physical pain. The singing bowls emit a sound at a noticeable vibration, which is a powerful force on the body.

Scientific research and the sounds of nature

More and more research is being poured into the impact of sound on us, especially, the sounds of nature. These natural sounds help ease the feelings of needing to get out. Natural sounds and green environments have been linked with relaxation and well-being throughout history. According to a new study, sounds coming from nature physically alter the connections in our brains, reducing our body’s natural fight-or-flight instinct. The fight or flight response is our bodies natural reaction to being put into a stressful or dangerous situation.

Furthermore, researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School investigated the connection between the brain, the body, and background noise. In order to do so, they recruited 17 healthy adults to receive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. These scans were conducted while listening to a series of five-minute soundscapes of natural and manmade environments. During each soundscape, the participants were asked to perform a task. Their attention and reaction times were monitored, as well as their heart rates. Interestingly, the participants showed that listening to artificial sounds was associated with patterns of inward-focused attention, while nature sounds prompted more external-focused attention.

Inward thinking usually includes feelings like worrying or being overly concerned with one’s self. These are all linked to conditions involving psychological stress like:

• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Physiological effects of the sounds of nature

Sounds of nature and light therapy work hand-in-hand to balance circadian cycles and lower your stress. They also impact your physical health, mental health, and social health in the following ways.

1. Physical Health

Healthy eating and regular exercise are hugely beneficial for our physical health. But so does simply being outdoors. Studies from the past 30 years demonstrate that constant exposure to nature enhances us physically. For example, visual, audio, or active engagement with natural environments is incredibly effective for regulating our diurnal body rhythms. In turn, this boosts our physical vitality. So, the natural materials and patterns experienced in nature, like the sound of waves crashing, can induce a positive impact on health.

Recent studies show that neurological and circadian rhythms relating to exposure to natural sunlight can vastly improve a person’s physical health. Practices such as earthing or physical contact with the Earth’s surface, have become widely popular as they too can regulate diurnal body rhythms.

Other benefits of natural soundscapes for physical health include:

• A reduction of blood pressure;
• Lower heart rate;
• A reduction of muscle tension;
• Lower production levels of stress hormones.

2. Mental health

Sounds of nature can also impact mental health. Remember nature’s effects on the fight-or-flight response? Well, let’s look further into that! Since the mid-80s, there has been more and more focus on the impact that nature has on mental health. Much of the research, especially within the Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, examines the effects of nature on well-being and its beneficial properties based on humanity’s affiliation with nature.

Your sensory experience impacts your mental health and moods. So, what you are seeing, hearing, and experiencing at any moment is changing not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working.

The sounds of nature can:

• Boost mood;
• Decrease stress;
• Lessen pain;
• Induce calmness;
• Spark joy;
• Release creativity;
• Improve sleep;
• Facilitate concentration.

  Nature sounds work against anxiety and can enhance the nervous system function and human behavior. The calming effect of contact with nature and its unique sounds helps reduce aggression, curb violence, and contribute to peace of mind. In recent years, sounds of nature for sleep have become quite popular. Not only does the reduction of fight or flight mean that sleep is improved, but it aids with the rest-digest autonomic nervous systems. This has vast impacts on brain activity and when the brain is active and not. So, sounds of nature are a great idea to help with sleeplessness and sleep disorders.

3. Social health

When there is a deeper mental and emotional balance between a population, social interaction increases, and the levels of violence decrease. But, let’s take it a bit further and look at the integration of more natural spaces in society. Here, we are touching on the impacts of physically being outdoors and in a green space.

In the last two decades, the relationship between people and place in the context of green spaces has received much attention. Indeed, the presence of green space in built-up cities and environments can promote social cohesion and group-based activities. These are all crucial for maintaining social ties, developing communities, and increasing individual well-being.

Ready to experience the powerful effects of nature sounds?

Adding sounds of nature to your day-to-day life is quite simple! You can listen while you are in traffic, waking up, working, and yes, even while you are sleeping. Subtle, gentle background noise will help you balance your emotions, lower anxiety, concentrate more, and sleep better. What more do you need?

If you are looking forward to experiencing the powerful effects of nature sound, you’ll find an excellent option right here! Check out Beginning.com’s sound journeys. Each journey is an immersive and deeply relaxing experience powered by three-dimensional nature sounds and soothing musical compositions. Listen today to start a transformative and healing journey.