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The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music
A guide to the surprising benefits of music on your mind, spirit, and body—complete with sound-based breathing and meditation exercises
Since 1991, Dr. Mitchell Gaynor has been achieving remarkable results by integrating music, vocalization, breathing, and meditation techniques in his work with patients. In The Healing Power of Sound, he presents his sound-based techniques for self-healing—techniques that anyone can use, whether faced with a life-threatening disease or simply seeking relief from the stresses of daily life.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the health benefits of it can lower blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates; reduce cardiac complications; increase the immune response; and boost our natural opiates. Gaynor shows how, when integrated as part of a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness, music can play a significant part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle or in healing serious disease. The Healing Power of Sound includes twelve exercises involving breathing, meditation, and “toning”—using pure vocal sound to resolve tension, release emotion, and spur the healing process—that can be used by anyone to improve health and quality of life.
Since 1991, Dr. Mitchell Gaynor has been achieving remarkable results by integrating music, vocalization, breathing, and meditation techniques in his work with patients. In The Healing Power of Sound, he presents his sound-based techniques for self-healing—techniques that anyone can use, whether faced with a life-threatening disease or simply seeking relief from the stresses of daily life.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the health benefits of it can lower blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates; reduce cardiac complications; increase the immune response; and boost our natural opiates. Gaynor shows how, when integrated as part of a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness, music can play a significant part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle or in healing serious disease. The Healing Power of Sound includes twelve exercises involving breathing, meditation, and “toning”—using pure vocal sound to resolve tension, release emotion, and spur the healing process—that can be used by anyone to improve health and quality of life.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 22, 2019
After experiencing Tibetan Healing bowls for the first time, Dr Gaynor seeks to put left and right brain together and bring us the best, scientific, peer-reviewed research available, as of 1999. Dr Gaynor does an excellent job of outlining the available research on sound healing, doing his best to appease the scientific and skeptics alike by explaining the science behind sound healing techniques that have essentially been in use for thousands of years, before we humans even had the intelligence to dispute their efficacy.
Dr Gaynor is a physician who incorporates sound healing into his oncology practice. He encourages others to incorporate a more holistic approach into their medical practices, citing many examples of how sound healing in his own practice has provided positive results for his own patients. He understands sound healing as a complimentary practice rather than an alternative one, recognizing that a holistic care plan requires caring for the whole person, this means body, mind and spirit, Our whole person encompasses not only our physical person, but also our emotions, feelings and all previous traumas and experiences. Dr Gaynor recognized the amalgam of psychology and spirituality was missing from his practice . The addition of sound therapy provided a more satisfactory, holistic treatment plan.
Had I read this book in 1999, I would have likely given it 5 stars. Some of the information in the book in now outdated, but I contend the book lays out a solid foundational understanding of the science behind sound healing.
I highly recommend this book for all sound healers as it will give you a solid elementary understanding of the science behind the sound, things quantum science is only beginning to understand, some 20 years after this book was published.
Of note, the information in this book is the exact same information in another book by Dr Gaynor, of a different title" "Sounds of Healing" the two titles are identical and there is no need to read both, one or the other will suffice.
I highly recommend this book for all sound healers including crystal bowl players, gong players, tuning fork users and other practice rooted in sonic healing.
I also highly recommend this book to musicians, music producers and DJs. Once you understand the principles of resonance and the ability of sound to change the vibration of our biology, you begin to recognize the responsibility you hold as a musician.
As I have stated, some of the information is outdated, some 20 years later, but I believe this provides is with a solid jumping off point for understanding the nature and background of sound healing.
Dr Gaynor is a physician who incorporates sound healing into his oncology practice. He encourages others to incorporate a more holistic approach into their medical practices, citing many examples of how sound healing in his own practice has provided positive results for his own patients. He understands sound healing as a complimentary practice rather than an alternative one, recognizing that a holistic care plan requires caring for the whole person, this means body, mind and spirit, Our whole person encompasses not only our physical person, but also our emotions, feelings and all previous traumas and experiences. Dr Gaynor recognized the amalgam of psychology and spirituality was missing from his practice . The addition of sound therapy provided a more satisfactory, holistic treatment plan.
Had I read this book in 1999, I would have likely given it 5 stars. Some of the information in the book in now outdated, but I contend the book lays out a solid foundational understanding of the science behind sound healing.
I highly recommend this book for all sound healers as it will give you a solid elementary understanding of the science behind the sound, things quantum science is only beginning to understand, some 20 years after this book was published.
Of note, the information in this book is the exact same information in another book by Dr Gaynor, of a different title" "Sounds of Healing" the two titles are identical and there is no need to read both, one or the other will suffice.
I highly recommend this book for all sound healers including crystal bowl players, gong players, tuning fork users and other practice rooted in sonic healing.
I also highly recommend this book to musicians, music producers and DJs. Once you understand the principles of resonance and the ability of sound to change the vibration of our biology, you begin to recognize the responsibility you hold as a musician.
As I have stated, some of the information is outdated, some 20 years later, but I believe this provides is with a solid jumping off point for understanding the nature and background of sound healing.
September 18, 2025
(3.5) First half of the book was incredible. Offered a detailed history into sound healing, science of sound healing in an allopathic medical context. Second half of the book was a banal forced march of the same repeated formula: “I had a client with x condition. They were resistant to sound healing and/or apprehensive. They played a crystal bowl, and have eliminated their previous ailment and strengthened their mental fortitude.” This read like an extended literary ad for crystal bowls Exercises throughout the book were very informative and helpful.
August 14, 2025
I've been learning and teaching others about sound healing since 2018. This is an inspiring and practical resource you can use for yourself or with others. Some concepts I hadn't read about before that the author shared are; the difference between a cure and healing; deep meditation and sound entertainment lower the frequency of our brains; oscillations of Bentov's wave packets; space-time continuum. I have begun to use some of the practices, with sound bowl and voice with great hope.
June 30, 2024
The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music is an unusual book. I’m not sure if it’s genius or poppycock. Anything will heal a person if they believe in it hard enough.
December 2, 2016
Absolutely revolutionary information regarding how to use sound (both from within and without) to help promote and sustain emotional and physical health. Too many personal stories to wade through. Some stories are nice, but would have appreciated additional academic / scientific information to support his assertions.
November 1, 2009
It is fascinating that sounds can have such an effect on our being. Using sound for transitions in classrooms was something I heard about, but I can see the effect of sound now. A bit hard to do in a few days, but worth exploring.
May 14, 2015
A deep exploration into the power of sound, something a lot of people dismiss or don't consider as a source for healing. It has helped me take notice more of the sounds I surround myself with and how I integrate them into my days, especially when I am in need of healing.
October 18, 2010
Didn't work for me.
June 17, 2013
Very interesting!
January 27, 2016
This book would more accurately be titled "The Healing Power of Crystal Singing Bowls."
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews