Drums for Healing
Boom, boom, Boom, boom… The deep, resonant sound of the frame drum 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.
Drumming/percussion has value as a healing tool. Have you ever heard of a drum massage? It’s a technique that amounts to a sonic smudge that also promotes energy flow. Healing sounds aren’t always pretty sounds that create a sonic easy chair for your ears to slide into. A drum can clear energetic blocks and move stuck energy.
Plus, have you ever sung into a frame drum? 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, amplifying the sound of the birds and mingling their whistles with the beat of the drum. Sitting with those sounds is an amazing experience that makes me feel more integrated into my surroundings.
Drums promote a feeling of connection in drum circles as people get into a rhythm with each other. Artistry is also there as a person expresses themself by creating new rhythms.
Drums are 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, reporting a sense of relief and appearing to be 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.
