Music for Pain Management: Binaural beats
What are Binaural Beats?
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Binaural beats are created when a different sound frequency is played to each ear at the same time. This causes a process to occur in the brain called entrainment, where it syncs to the frequency difference (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
Try for yourself on this sound generator (headphones suggested):
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Research on chronic pain found that listening to theta wave binaural beats decreased the participants' need for daily pain medication (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
Another finding shows that brain entrainment is strong enough to reduce the amount of general anesthesia and/or fentanyl needed during a surgical procedure (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
This information can help open doors to help people decrease their pain and pain medication dependence. Medications typically create many side effects from repeated use, taking a toll on organs like the stomach and kidneys (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
Not Just for Pain!
Natural Pain Relief Leads to Fewer Pain Meds Needed
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
The entrainment process can be seen on an EEG (which scans brain waves) (Gkolias, et al., 2020). This is significant because someone can listen to binaural beats that can help the brain sync up to other mental states like alpha, beta, delta, and other waves.
Besides pain relief, binaural beats can be used to assist with brain focusing for studying, falling asleep, or calming anxiety (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
In a double blind study performed in 2020, researchers studied people who had experienced chronic pain that lasted 8-10 years. They created binaural beats using a frequency of 400 and 405 hz played with meditation music to elicit theta wave activity in the brain. When participants listened to this music for 30 minutes a week, they experienced 30% relief in their chronic pain (Gkolias, et al., 2020).
Where does Entrainment Happen?
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
Where does Entrainment Happen?
Like most music processing, the binaural beat enters the ear and goes to the cochlea. From there, it goes into the auditory nerve to the brain. Next, it goes down to the brainstem and the superior olivary nuclei (which help us process sound every day)(Gkolias, et al., 2020). Finally, it makes it to a special area called the reticular formation. This area of the brain is in charge of many basic survival functions such as movements, behaviors, and some emotional-regulation (Faraguna, et al, 2019).
How is the Heart Involved?
Listen Only 30 Minutes a Week for Relief with Chronic Pain
Where does Entrainment Happen?
A great side effect to using binaural beats is alleviation of other body symptoms that accompany stress, pain, anxiety, and depression. Chronic pain patients from the 2020 study mentioned, experienced reduction in blood pressure and pulse rate (Gkolias, et al., 2020). High blood pressure and a racing heart is known to cause other health problems such as heart attack or stroke (American Heart Association, 2022). Listening to this type of music is not only helping specific symptoms, it can help the whole body feel great!