Binaural Beats for When You Hit the Sheets
September 30, 2022LIZ MOON, NP
Optimal sleep is an integral part of our wellbeing. Trouble falling asleep or frequent waking is a common complaint I hear about often, sometimes stemming from anxiety. Establishing a bedtime routine which may include strategies such as reading, listening to a guided meditation or peaceful music can help with falling asleep and may also impact staying asleep.
I have written about the importance of sleep in the past and how it affects the gut microbiome and weight. When studying meditation in the past, I came across an auditory phenomenon called binaural beats. This intervention resurfaced as I’ve been looking for ideas to help my son fall asleep.
An article published by Sleep Foundation this year describes binaural beats as not a musical genre but “an auditory phenomenon created by your brain in response to hearing specific tones in each ear. Early research of the experimental treatment indicates that listening to binaural beats can reduce feelings of anxiety and improve your ability to fall asleep.” This auditory phenomenon is a perception of sound created by the brain. Binaural beats can synchronize with your brain waves and alter brain wave activity and levels of arousal.
There are different frequencies that can be created, “each being associated with different levels of brain wave activity.” For stage one of sleep, “your brain produces theta waves at a frequency between 4 Hz and 8 Hz, these waves are also associated with drowsiness and meditation. The slowest brain waves are delta waves at a frequency between 0.5 Hz and 4 Hz. Listening to binaural beats at delta frequencies can help you sleep.” Further research is needed to continue supporting these preliminary findings but sounds promising!
If you’re looking to optimize your sleep and or your overall health, contact us today! We have a team of experts here to support you. Call 224.407.4400 to schedule an appointment today.