Singing bowl therapy

thumb|right|165px|Singing bowl therapy
Singing bowl therapy (SBT) is an alternative medicine in which patients listen to the sounds created by Tibetan . SBT is claimed to create a meditation state or healing state. These vibrations are claimed to improve body health by reducing stress and inducing a more calm state.
==History==
They were apparently first used to collect donations, later as musical instruments and finally as healing tools. Musical instruments have been used by many peoples for ritualistic purposes. The singing bowls seem to be one of the ritual instruments used by Buddhists. http://www.yowangdu.com/tibetan-buddhism/meditation/tibetan-singing-bowls-an-introduction.html
Confusion persists on the internet because some websites falsely claim that singing bowls originated "from the time of Gautama Buddha" http://www.bodhisattva.com/about.htm This is an example of cultural appropriation, where a company claims the object is associated with important historical events. In this case, they claim the objects are from the 6th-5th century BCE, although it is known that bowls from the era and location of the Buddha were made of stone and wood, not metal. People also claim singing bowls were brought from India to Tibet by Padmasambhava, (alias Guru Rinpoche); however this appears to be another incidence of historical appropriation. Padmasambhava is believed to have brought Buddhism to Tibet, not singing bowls.
However, the healing practice itself was invented in the 20th century by Europeans and Americans who became fascinated with the singing bowls. Some claim SBT has been practiced by Tibetans for centuries, but there is no evidence to support this claim. The fact is that the practice was invented by Westerners; it is said to alter one's consciousness for the better. 
Myths about the use of singing bowls probably come from the otherworldly sound of the bowls themselves. They make a very unique sound that includes multiphonic amplification of multiple harmonic overtones. The metal bowls can be played by hitting them or by rubbing a mallet around the rim of the bowl, producing the unique singing sound.
Published in July, 2011, scientific studies have shown that the generation of the waves from the bowls is caused by slight deformations in the shape of the bowls, which temporarily alter the flatness of the surface of the edge of water. There is proposed scientific research and practical applications for the effect, which causes random separation of droplets of water from the surface.http://www.iop.org/news/11/july/page_51352.html
==Ailments treated==
SBT allegedly provides relief from a broad and unrelated variety of ailments:
*Promotes deeper sleep
*Actually heals you:
:*Activates self-healing mechanisms within the body (um...)
:*Relief from headache, fatigue, insomnia, digestive disorders, joint or muscle aches, menstrual disorders, emotional imbalances (wow, all these at once, or only one per customer?)
:*Detoxification down to the cellular and "bone deep" level (as if the liver and kidneys weren't already good at removing toxins from the body)
*Emotional relief:
:*Stress Reduction through deep relaxation and endorphin releaseIASH Sound Therapy (maybe? sounds plausible that it's relaxing, like hatha yoga)
:*Liberation of emotional traumas locked within the subconscious (like in psychotherapy?)
:*Healing past emotional traumas and breakthrough of limiting behavior patterns (oh, like past life regression?)
:*Management or resolution of learning issues, ADHD (wait, how?)
*Fixes your energy, man!
:*Aura harmonizing (New Age woo!)
:*Chakra balancing (Indian woo!)
:*Profound effect on acupuncture meridians (compound woo, if you will)
==Doctors love it==
There is a history of legitimate medical practitioners like the lateDr. Mitchell Gayor Obituary by Sam Roberts. New York Times Dr. Mitchell Gayor suggesting it for cancer patients in addition to their normal course of treatment. Many in the medical community in the 1990s were stumbling on the fact that stress and depression can have an effect at least on the mental health of their patients.
==See also==
*Aromatherapy
*Sound healing
==External links==
*1.5 hours of Tibetan Singing bowl. Prepare your ears.
==References==
Category:Alternative medicine
Category:Buddhism
Category:Sound