A tool so simple yet so powerful that it can calm your mind, heal your body, and lift your spirit—all with just a gentle hum. An object that could have been made 1,000+ years ago -- fire, bronze and skilled craftsmen the ingredients for these tools.
No one explains the transformative nature of sounds better than Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD, in his incredible book, The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music. Dr. Gaynor, a doctor who worked with cancer patients, discovered that sound—especially from singing bowls—could do things medicine alone couldn’t.
Let's take a look at some of the highlights from this book...
Singing Bowls: A Shortcut to Peace
Dr. Gaynor writes about patients who were stressed, scared, or in pain from serious illnesses. When they listened to the bowls’ deep, soothing tones, something magical happened. Their minds slowed down, their breathing got easier, and they felt peace they hadn’t known in ages.
Gaynor says it’s because the sound vibrations sync up with your brain, dropping you into a relaxed state where worries melt away.
It’s like a fast track to meditation.
Healing That Goes Beyond Medicine
What’s really incredible is how Dr. Gaynor saw sound help people heal—not just feel better for a moment, but actually recover from tough stuff.
He shares stories of patients who used singing bowls alongside their treatments and found their bodies responding better.
One patient, battling a life-threatening illness, said the bowls made her feel “retuned,” like her whole being was vibrating in harmony again. Gaynor explains that sound waves can touch every cell in your body, helping you release tension and even boost your energy. It’s not a cure by itself, but it’s a partner to healing that science is just starting to understand.
A Voice for Your Soul
Here’s where it gets super interesting: The Doctor doesn’t stop at singing bowls. He says your own voice is a healing tool as well (as we've seen in Sound School, with Dr Sandra)
He taught patients to chant (if you're in this, Kirtan is a practice for you to look into)—simple sounds like “om”—and watched them light up with joy and strength. O
ne woman, facing a hard diagnosis, found that chanting with a bowl gave her a sense of power she’d lost. Gaynor believes these vibrations wake up something deep inside us, connecting us to hope and resilience. It’s like your voice and the bowl team up to sing your soul back to life.
Inspiration to Try It Yourself
He describes how the bowls’ overtones (those extra layers of sound) can lift you into a dreamy, creative state where big ideas and inner peace flow naturally.
One time, he played a bowl for a group and saw them go from frazzled to focused in minutes. The sound is a bridge to something deeper.
Why It’s So Special
The most interesting part of all of that, was that Dr Gaynor was not a spiritual seeker interesting in the metaphysical.
He was a western medicine doctor, looking for real impacts for his patients.
In The Healing Power of Sound, he mixes stories from his patients with science about how sound waves affect our brains and bodies. He credits ancient traditions, like the Tibetans who’ve used singing bowls for centuries, and brings their wisdom into our modern world. The book feels like a friend telling you, “Hey, there’s this amazing thing you’ve got to try—it changed my life, and it can change yours too.”
A Final Note
Dr. Gaynor’s work isn’t about replacing doctors or medicine—it’s about adding something beautiful to life.
Whether you’re stressed out, curious, or just love a good vibe, his book shows how sound can be your ally. Grab a singing bowl, strike it gently, and listen. You might just hear the start of something incredible.
All credit for these ideas goes to Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD, and his book, The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music.
He passed away in 2015, but his words still ring true.
