The 6 Healing Sounds of TCM
Did you know the Chinese character for music 樂 shares the exact same character for happiness 樂, and the character for medicine 藥 is simply the same character with the symbol for plants as it’s crown? It begs the question, what did ancient cultures know about the healing powers of sound?
樂 樂 藥
music happiness medicine
In a way we all can appreciate the impact that sound and music can have on us. You may have experienced how sound can change your mood from sad to happy, or happy to sad. You also may have used the power of special sounds —like wind chimes, Tibetan singing bowls, chanting, or soothing music — to help you relax. But how exactly does TCM incorporate sound healing into it’s philosophy and how does it all work?
For starters, we are all energy. Every cell in our body vibrates at a specific frequency. And messages relayed through our bodies are done so in a couple different ways - chemically through hormone messengers or neurotransmitters, and mechanically through sound or vibrations.
TCM is all about balancing the flow of internal energy, or Qi. This is the life energy that flows inside of our bodies, and through our major internal organ systems. The ancient Chinese found that blockages, stagnation, or imbalances in our energy flow can cause disease. Part of why herbal medicine and acupuncture work so well, is that they are able to affect our Qi energy flow in positive ways. But acupuncture and herbs aren’t the only treatments that can affect our energy: there are many other TCM modalities that do, such as massage, diet, cupping, Qigong movements — and sound!
Specifically, within the field of Qigong, there are six separate healing sounds that bring balance to the Qi in the six major organ systems. Each sound is said to clear stagnant or negative energy in a particular organ and encourage a more balanced energy flow to help that organ system thrive.
Unlike passively listening to music or the sound of a bell, with TCM healing sounds, you, must intone the sound with your own voice. This causes the vibration of the sound to reverberate deep inside of your body. Your own intonation is why and how the sound energy can affect your internal energy balance.
Each sound is associated with a paired organ system and its associated meridians. These systems are also associated with common emotions. That’s why many TCM doctors and Qigong masters suggest using healing sounds if you are feeling emotionally out of balance. You can look at this list of sounds and try intoning the associated sound for that emotion.
Generally, however, the six healing sounds are best used as a meditation or daily wellness practice. If you can set aside 2-3 minutes, you can start by standing or sitting quietly at first, maintaining good posture. Then, inhale deeply and slowly all the way down to your abdomen. When it’s time to exhale, exhale slowly and evenly while forming one of the healing sounds listed below. You can go through each of the six sounds one at a time, or do a few repetitions of each. Or, you can choose one particular sound that feels good, or that you know is associated with an energetic or emotional imbalance that you have.
The 6 Healing Sounds in TCM:
Lungs (and Large Intestine) | “sssssss” | grief, sadness
Kidney (and Bladder) | “chooo” | fear
Liver (and Gall Bladder) | “shhhhhh” | anger
Heart (and Small Intestine) | “haaaaaw” | hate/love
Spleen (and Stomach) | “whooooo” | worry, anxiety
Triple Warmer (a special meridian in TCM) | “heeee” | general overall balance
There are many paths to healing and internal harmony. The power of TCM is in it’s consideration of the body as part of nature, not separate from it. And the laws of nature can be harnessed to heal ourselves. You can employ these sounds as preventative medicine or as a general tonic or tune-up for your system. Oh and it doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a note, so give them a shot! Enjoy the good vibes!