Scientists have known for some time that music can have a measurable effect on acute and chronic pain.
Music triggers the release of opioids in the brain, which are the body’s own ‘morphine’.
Meditation/relaxing music in particular triggers the release of the brain chemical dopamine, a compound strongly associated with other rewarding and motivating stimuli, such as food, sex, and certain addictive drugs.
This explains the potential music has to reduce the feeling of pain and the reduced need for pain medication.
And the good news is that the pain reduction doesn't stop once the music does, because the opioid release takes time to wear off.
Music & Pain Relief
A study in fibromyalgia patients – a disease that causes severe chronic pain in the muscles and joints – showed that patients experienced less chronic pain after listening to their favorite music.
After having listened to relaxing music for pain relief, patients reported that the pain became less unpleasant and less intense. ~ Study lead author, Peter Vuust, of the Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) at Aarhus University, Denmark (1).
In other areas of medicine, music has helped children undergoing medical and dental procedures.
Music has also been effective in alleviating pain in a variety of other clinical settings such as palliative care, pediatrics, surgery and anesthesia. There has also been positive results in helping cancer patients relieve pain (2).
Binaural Beats & Pain Relief
Due to the use of specific frequencies designed to alter the brain's reaction to, and perception of, pain, binaural beats music has been shown to be effective at reducing pain.
A study of 36 adults with various types of chronic pain, looked at the effect of theta binaural beats on pain severity over 14 successive days.
In addition to the theta binaural beats intervention, a placebo was used. This meant that the patients didn't know whether they were listening to the real binaural beats track or the sham intervention.
The participants were required to listen for 20 minutes per day.
An analysis of the results indicated a large main effect for the binaural beats intervention in reducing perceived pain severity. The binaural beats intervention performed 77% better than the placebo.
The authors of the study concluded:
The results supported the hypothesis that an external audio protocol of TBB was effective in reducing perceived pain severity for participants (1).
How Our Pain Relief Music Works
As used in the aforementioned successful study on chronic pain, our Pain Relief track also uses binaural beats at 6 Hz (theta).
At around the 10-minute mark, the track begins to wind down to 2.5 Hz (delta), which is a frequency associated with the release of endogenous opiates and a deeply relaxed state of mind.
In addition to the binaural beats frequencies, the music (instrumentation) in the track is tuned to the frequency of 174 Hz.
This is a frequency taken from the ancient Solfeggio scale, which sound therapists and healers consider to be a natural anesthetic that reduces pain and encourages the optimal operation of the body's organs.
Is Pain Relief Track Right for You?
This program is intended for regular, daily use by anyone with mild to chronic pain.
From a small headache to a twisted ankle, or more serious conditions such as fibromyalgia, the music can be used in conjunction with medical care, medication and rehabilitation.
Simply sit or lie down, close your eyes, relax and press play.
Please be aware that you may fall asleep during or after listening, so it is important that you do not drive or operate machinery while using this product.
If you are experiencing pain, you should seek the advise of a physician. This music is not intended as a replacement for hospital care or medication.
