Is Binaural Beat Therapy the New Cure-All?
Binaural beat therapy has experienced an immense surge in popularity as of late, with many touting its effectiveness in helping them to relax, meditate, and even treat anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. But what exactly is binaural beat therapy? How does it work? Is it effective? And if so, why aren’t more people using it? This comprehensive guide to binaural beat therapy will help you understand what this sound wave therapy entails, how it works, and whether or not you should try it out yourself.
What Are Binaural Beats?
The name binaural beat comes from a scientific principle known as frequency following response. This phenomenon is fairly simple to explain: If you place two separate frequencies in each ear, your brain will adopt one of them as its own—this can result in a whole host of emotional and physical benefits. In fact, many studies have shown that binaural beats help enhance athletic performance, reduce blood pressure, ease chronic pain and more. But how exactly do they work? And how do they produce these effects on our bodies?
The Benefits of Brainwave Entrainment
When you sleep, your brain runs through a series of different cycles, called sleep stages. As you fall asleep and throughout each cycle, specific chemicals are released that affect how you feel. Your brain produces these chemicals to help ease you into a relaxed state so it’s easier for you to rest and fall back asleep once you wake up in the middle of the night. Brainwave entrainment (or binaural beats) can reproduce these same chemical reactions—these waves may help calm anxiety or stress and improve your mood by stimulating certain areas of your brain.
Understand Alpha Waves vs Beta Waves
The fundamental difference between alpha and beta waves is that they occur at different frequencies. When we’re in a relaxed, wakeful state (like when we’re reading or sitting quietly), our brains produce alpha waves. When we’re anxious or engaging in something exciting, such as sports or danger, our brains produce beta waves. Binaural beat therapy makes use of a phenomenon called entrainment, which means that when you play two sound frequencies together, your brain will naturally synchronize to both—creating a single tone.
Understand Delta Waves vs Theta Waves
In order to understand how binaural beats work, it's helpful to know about two different types of brain waves: delta and alpha. Delta waves are associated with sleep, while alpha waves are more closely linked to wakefulness. By combining these two types of wave frequencies, you can experience both relaxation and focus within minutes!
Benefits of Using Binaural Beats to Manage Stress
Stress is one of those issues that’s rampant in our society today. It’s literally impossible to avoid it. And while some stress is actually good (i.e., it helps you stay alert, focused and goal-oriented), most stress isn’t helpful, and it can lead to health problems like anxiety and depression if not properly managed. A recent study found that people who used binaural beats reported a reduction in anxiety after just 10 minutes of listening, which may make them a viable option for helping with stress relief, at least in some cases.
How To Get Started with Binaural Beats
To get started with binaural beats, you’ll need some software (there are a variety of free programs available on their official website), but I recommend starting off with something like Brain Evolution System by Daniel Levine. This program works for both Windows and Mac computers, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. The steps are easy to follow and it doesn’t take much time or effort to learn how to use them effectively. The videos below will give you an overview of each step and how it's used. There are even more resources available in their support forum. Feel free to explore, ask questions, and share your experiences with other users!
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