Drums for Healing
Boom, boom, Boom, boom… The deep, resonant sound of the frame drums is often associated with the “heartbeat of the Earth.” A sound that’s so natural, so potent, and also so connected to our ancestors… All across the globe, our ancestors used rhythm in a sacred way.
As I close my eyes to journey, I hear the steady beat of a drum. The du, du, du, du of the drum relaxes me, steadies me as with my eyes closed, my spirit moves toward a giant tree… This sound reminds me of a caving rope, a sonic cord from home that remains with me as I explore a magical field.
Drumming/percussion has value as a healing tool. Healing sounds aren’t always pretty sounds that just place your ears in an easy chair to sit back. A drum can clear energetic blocks and move stuck energy. I, also, drum to celebrate nature under the stars or sun, to set space or to end a ceremony.
Plus, frame drum singing is fun. The back of my drum catches my voice and gives it extra depth. And not just my voice. I’ve sat in the forest before and appreciated how bird song bounced around in the back of the drum, which amplified the sound of the birds and somehow made their notes mingle more with the beat of the drum. Sitting with those sounds is an amazing experience that makes me feel more integrated into my surroundings.
But there’s more. Have you ever heard of a drum massage? It’s a technique that amounts to a sonic smudge that also promotes energy flow.
Drums promote a feeling of connection in drum circles, of self-expression as you create new rhythms and yes, even healing.
Drums are traditional and are now being used in modern settings to promote better physical and mental health. Science is catching up with what our ancestors knew. Recent scientific studies support that drums:
1) Improve cardiovascular health as well as reducing stress and anxiety Read this study found in the Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine;
2) Boost immunity Blog with an Index to Multiple Scientific Studies; and
3) May even spark brain growth. A 2019 study in the Journal of Huntington’s Disease found:
The results concur with findings from previous studies, which suggest that there are potential neuroplastic effects… specifically in subcortical basal ganglion areas, that positively affect functioning in cognitive domains. Rhythmic drumming may have additionally induced stronger synaptic connections between auditory and motor cortices that facilitated an intact exercise performance.
Books are being written in the field of cognitive neuroscience that support cognitive rehabilitation through rhythmic exercises (See, for example, Rhythm, Music, and the Brain: Scientific Foundations and Clinical Applications (Studies on New Music Research by Michael Taut)
Drums are also being introduced as a component of therapy for people who are suffering from PTSD or navigating through extremely stressful situations. I recently attended a talk about an organization called Drums for Cures that is offering drum therapy to Ukrainian children in hospitals. According to parents and staff at the hospitals, the drumming is returning smiles to childrens’ faces. These children are responding to the drums by talking more to their parents, feeling a sense of relief and feeling more centered.
I’m not a scientist, but I look forward to reading more studies, more evidence and more recognition of the benefits of the drum, as long as it doesn’t cut too much into my time to just enjoy my drums.
