The science behind Ed can Help

The relationship between health and sound

Your brain is constantly emitting electrical activity, which can be displayed as brainwaves. There are several different types of brainwaves – their frequency changes depending on the mental or physical activity being performed.

An EEG (electroencephalogram) measures brain waves through electrodes placed across the scalp. If the frequency of these waves is different from how it should be, this can have a negative effect on our brain’s performance. When certain areas of the brain are overstimulated or overactive, this can be indicative of anxiety. On the other hand, too little stimulation could be related to problems such as depression and insomnia. 

Sound healers believe they can influence our brain waves in order to ease a range of ailments. We know that sound travels through waves, the frequency of which changes depending on their volume and pitch. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that sound can have such an impact on our brain function.

The history of sound

Sound therapy goes back many years. It can be traced right back to the Australian aborigines, who used the didgeridoo as a healing tool. As a primitive example of sound healing, it creates a drone-like, low frequency sound which has been said to create a meditative, relaxed state in listeners. 

There are countless instruments which have been used to promote better physical and emotional wellbeing. These include: 

• Tibetan bowls – used traditionally by monks in meditation practices. 
• Gong baths – a shamanic healing tool used as early as 4000 BC. 
• Tuning forks – an instrument that creates vibrations which have been said to promote self-healing. 
• Vocal chanting – a singing technique which can focus and calm the mind.

Sound has been used for centuries as an intrinsic part of tribal rituals and spiritual practices. From ancient Peru to ancient Egypt, it seems that our ancestors discovered the healing properties of sound before we could even begin to understand how it works.

A scientific approach to sound

Unlike holistic sound-based healing, Ed Can Help takes a modern and scientific approach to sound therapy. It’s been clinically proven to treat thousands of people looking to improve their mental wellbeing. 

Our sound-based therapy sessions work similarly to EMDR therapy. This is a type of therapy that doesn’t require talking through difficulties. It is instead about stimulating the natural healing process of the brain. 

Your brain constantly makes connections in relation to your environment and experiences. These connections are called neural pathways, and they allow us to learn new skills and create memories. However, they can also build unhealthy or unhelpful connections, which can lead to us feeling trapped in certain thought patterns and habits. 

Luckily, your brain is flexible and adaptable. This neuroplasticity is what enables us to break habits and create healthier thought patterns. But sometimes the brain needs help to process trauma and difficult feelings, when it becomes “stuck”. 

Ed can Help works by using acoustic frequencies to disrupt unhelpful brain connections. The sound stimulates both sides of the brain to disrupt traumatic memories or difficult feelings, breaking up the associated neural pathways and making way for new ones. It can help listeners to overcome anything from PTSD to anxiety and depression.

Neurofeedback

As another type of therapy which works similarly to Ed can Help, neurofeedback teaches your brain to self-regulate. In a neurofeedback session, neural activity is measured and fed back to the patient. This helps them learn how to regulate their body’s response to certain stimuli. 

Neurofeedback is all about training your brain to develop healthier patterns and responses. It’s noninvasive and helps to unite the mind and body to create lasting results. You can’t change the past, but you can change your emotional reaction to events that have happened. 

Practitioners believe that neurofeedback allows the brain to figure out for itself how to engage in healthier thoughts and responses. It’s not about dwelling on the past, or revising traumatic events time and time again – instead, it’s about moving forward with life and discovering a better way of thinking and acting. 
BAUD (Bio Acoustical Utilisation Device) therapy is a type of neurofeedback that uses soundwaves to break down neurological stress. The two different sound frequencies it produces work to access problem areas in the brain and break them down. This works as a type of “reset” for your mind, allowing it to move on from trauma and access its natural coping responses.

How do our sessions work?

When you listen to an Ed can Help therapy session, you might be surprised by the strangeness of the sounds you’re listening to. This is because they’ve been specifically designed to untangle negative thought patterns. They’re also not sounds that you’d typically hear in nature. 

It’s completely normal to feel uncomfortable when you first begin, but trust that your mind will relax as the session progresses. Unwelcome thoughts and feelings will likely pop up along the way, but the sound will work with your brain to help you break them down. 

When you persist with the sessions, accessing them consistently as a part of your daily routine, you’re more likely to see positive changes. They can support a range of issues including anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD, with astounding results. 

Your brain’s natural state is one of happiness and peace. With regular sound-based therapy sessions, you can work towards regaining this balance.  

If you’re looking for a non-invasive way to support your mental wellbeing, Ed can Help you. Our sound-based therapy app is more convenient and affordable than conventional therapy, and can be listened to from the comfort of your own home. 
Check out our monthly subscription app on IOS or Android to access a free trial.