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The Healing Power of 432Hz — Fact or Frequency Fiction?

We might be able to tune ourselves into wellness

Photo by Magic Bowls

One frequency above all others.

Sounds strange, doesn’t it?

Why would one and only one vibration be more important than all others?

In layman's terms, this means that an object (e.g. violin string) swinging at a certain speed (every second) is better than moving at a lower (or higher) speed. In the case of 432Hz, it means that there are 432 oscillations per second, and that frequency is valued more among other frequencies.

The main thought embraced by those in alternative health and New Age communities is that 432Hz resonates better with natural vibrations. This alignment is thought to improve well-being and balance in our minds and bodies.

Is there any evidence to support this claim?

Nature’s frequency

Before we say 432Hz is nature’s frequency for us to connect with, we need to figure out what frequency nature uses.

Although nature’s vibrations are diverse and complex, the Schumann Resonance comes to mind as one that might encompass the whole of Earth.

This vibration was first measured by a German physicist named Winfried Otto Schumann in the early 1950s. In simple terms, he measured the electric signal buzzing around Earth that comes from lightning storms and other electrical stuff in the air.

Here’s a more sophisticated description. When lightning strikes, it sends out a burst of electricity that travels all around the Earth. This electricity gets trapped between the Earth’s surface and a layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere, creating buzzing or resonance.

Taken from Wikipedia

The most common frequency people talk about is around 7.83 Hz (called the fundamental frequency), but there are other frequencies too, called harmonics or multiples, between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere.

The fluctuations are generally within a relatively stable range and even the multiples just go up to around 30Hz. But as you see here, this natural frequency is far from the 432Hz claimed by the New Age group.

The body’s frequency

We’re also part of nature, so let’s look at the frequencies we have in our bodies to determine if we’re near the 432Hz mark.

Human brain waves occur at different frequencies, each associated with different mental states. These include:

  • Delta Waves (0.5–4 Hz) during deep sleep.

  • Theta Waves (4–8 Hz) during meditation and drowsiness.

  • Alpha Waves (8–14 Hz) during relaxed wakefulness.

  • Beta Waves (14–30 Hz) during active thinking and concentration.

  • Gamma Waves (above 30 Hz) during cognitive processing.

The human heart generates electrical signals that result in a heartbeat. The resting heart rate for adults is typically around 60–100 beats per minute, which corresponds to a frequency range of 1–1.67 Hz (which is per second).

We also have breathing, at around 6 breaths per minute (0.1 Hz), the digestive system, with a rate of 8–12 bpm or 0.133 to 0.2 Hz for various digestive processes, but for other organs it’s not well-established or widely studied in the same way as brain waves or heartbeats.

Do any of these seem to oscillate near 432Hz?

However, that doesn’t mean that the actual 432Hz frequency can’t help people in their healing process.

What does the science say?

Several studies, but sadly not many, have addressed this issue.

In 2019, Italian researchers brought in 33 willing volunteers to the lab and played them some movie soundtracks — the same tunes — but one day at 432 Hz and another at the standard 440 Hz. They kept tabs on vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

They found that when participants listened to the melodies at the 432Hz tuning, these volunteers experienced a bit lower heart rates and blood pressure, and they felt more focused and relaxed. This was just a pilot study, a musical appetizer, so let’s not rush to conclusions.

A later study in 2020 tested the effectiveness of 432Hz music on people with spinal cord injuries dealing with sleep issues. Twelve patients listened to their favorite songs every day for 30 minutes, with half of them tuned to 432Hz and the other half at the regular 440Hz.

The results? The stress levels didn’t change much for either group, but when it came to sleep, the 432Hz group saw an improvement compared to their baseline scores, while the 440 Hz group didn’t show any change.

Let’s continue with the musical teasers with another study, but this time measuring people’s stress levels before tooth extractions. Researchers split 42 brave souls into three groups: one grooving to 432Hz music, another to 440Hz music, and a control group with no tunes. They measured anxiety (self-report) and cortisol levels (saliva samples) before and after a 15-minute music session.

The findings show that the 432Hz crew and the 440Hz crew both saw significantly lower anxiety levels compared to the control group. This difference was even more noticeable when it came to their stress levels. The group that listened to 432 Hz music exhibited lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels compared to both the 440 Hz group and the control group. Thus, music at 432Hz seems to be the magic frequency for calming your nerves and keeping cortisol in check before a dental dance.

But let’s be clear, these studies are limited and we need a comprehensive review to truly determine if this tuning is better for patients than the standard tuning we currently use.

How has the tuning changed over the years?

To discuss the 432Hz frequency, we must also explore humanity’s historical connection with various frequencies.

This becomes clearer when we look at the tuning system over the centuries. Throughout history, we’ve witnessed significant changes in the way musical instruments are tuned.

Let’s begin with ancient Greece around 500 B.C. Pythagoras introduced a tuning method based on whole number ratios for creating musical intervals, such as the perfect fifth (3:2).

However, when you stack these fifths to make a scale, the notes don’t align perfectly, causing some keys to sound off. As time went on, a shift occurred towards equal temperament tuning. This approach divides the octave into 12 equal parts, ensuring greater consistency in how all musical keys sound.

In the Renaissance and Baroque periods (15th to 18th century), the use of Pythagorean tuning diminished as music evolved. Composers started delving into intricate harmonies that didn’t align well with this tuning system. The new system sacrificed some purity in certain intervals that felt dissonant and divided the octave into 12 equally spaced semitones where all keys were now “in tune”.

This led to more freedom in composing and being more flexible. It allowed composers to delve into intricate harmonies and changes in musical keys that became a defining feature of much of the music from then on.

Although there wasn’t a standard tuning during the Baroque period, music instruments were tuned closer to A at 415Hz, which is half a step lower than the modern standard of 440Hz set by the International Standards Organization (ISO). From there on, the tuning increased a notch for each new music epoque.

The Classical period tuned around 430Hz on average with some outliers like Mozart at 421.6Hz and Verdi at 432Hz. Then the 19th century averaged around 435Hz (but with a wide array of tuning pitches) until 1936 when we start seeing the 440Hz tuning standard that continues until today.

Our historical relationship with tuning frequencies reveals a dynamic evolution influenced by both musical and cultural factors. The shift in tuning over time suggests that there isn’t a single optimal pitch for tuning, but rather, it’s influenced by cultural factors that shape how we perceive sound.

Takeaway

From what we gather the Schumann Resonance at around 7.83Hz is a far cry from 432Hz. Our bodies — brain waves, heartbeats, breaths — all have their unique rhythms, but none quite near the 432Hz mark.

However, 432Hz could help patients in some instances by reducing stress levels, heart rates, and anxiety levels, and improving sleep and focus. But remember, these studies are like a catchy intro, not the full symphony. We need more data to determine if 432Hz is the tune we’ve been waiting for.

The health industry should take a closer listen and examine the effects of different frequencies on various aspects of well-being. Imagine if we could fine-tune our playlists to not only entertain us but also enhance our mental and physical health.

Who knows what harmonious discoveries await us on this sonic journey?

Until then let’s continue to uncover the melodies that could make a real difference in our lives.

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