Research into singing bowl meditation is promising but not conclusive.
Several studies report short-term changes in self-reported tension, mood, anxiety or relaxation. Some have also measured changes in heart rate, blood pressure or brain activity.
However, much of the evidence comes from small studies, short interventions and uncontrolled before-and-after comparisons. Different studies also use different bowls, practitioners, session lengths, populations and comparison groups.
The most responsible conclusion is:
Singing bowl meditation may provide a relaxing or personally meaningful experience for some people, but current evidence is not strong enough to establish it as a treatment for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders or other health conditions.
This article examines the principal studies, what they found and what their limitations mean.
Singing Bowl Research at a Glance
| Research question | Current conclusion | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Can a session feel relaxing? | Frequently reported | Preliminary |
| Can it reduce short-term tension or anxiety? | Some positive findings | Low certainty |
| Does it improve mood? | Positive pre–post findings; limited controls | Low certainty |
| Does it lower heart rate or blood pressure? | Some short-term changes; inconsistent results | Low certainty |
| Does it improve sleep? | Mixed findings | Low certainty |
| Does it synchronise brainwaves? | Small experimental findings | Very preliminary |
| Does it provide long-term mental-health benefits? | Insufficient evidence | Unknown |
| Does it heal cells or strengthen immunity? | Not established | No credible evidence |
| Does it directly stimulate the vagus nerve? | Not established | No direct evidence |
| Can it replace medical or psychological care? | No | Not recommended |
How to Read Singing Bowl Studies
Before examining individual papers, it helps to understand what makes research more or less reliable.
Randomisation
Random allocation reduces the chance that participants in one group differ systematically from those in another.
A control condition
A control helps researchers distinguish the effect of the singing bowl from:
- resting quietly;
- lying down;
- meditation instructions;
- the practitioner;
- expectations;
- the room;
- group attention;
- the passage of time.
Objective and subjective outcomes
Self-reported relaxation is valuable because relaxation is partly a subjective experience. However, it does not provide the same evidence as independently measured health outcomes.
Objective measures might include heart rate, blood pressure, respiration or EEG recordings. These measures still require careful interpretation.
Sample size
Small studies are more vulnerable to chance findings and may not represent the wider population.
Follow-up
A change immediately after one session does not establish a lasting effect.
Most singing bowl research measures an immediate response. Much less is known about long-term outcomes.
A clearly defined intervention
“Singing bowl therapy” can refer to very different practices:
- listening to one bowl;
- listening to several bowls and gongs;
- lying above a large vibrating bowl;
- placing bowls on or near the body;
- combining bowls with yoga;
- combining bowls with directed relaxation;
- attending repeated clinical sessions.
Results from one method cannot automatically be applied to every other form.
Study 1: Landry’s 2014 Randomised Crossover Study
Study: Jayan Marie Landry, Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Himalayan Singing Bowl in Meditation Practice
What the researchers did
Fifty-one participants completed two sessions in random order.
Each session began with either:
- 12 minutes of exposure to a Himalayan singing bowl; or
- 12 minutes of silence.
Both conditions were followed by 20 minutes of directed relaxation.
The researchers measured:
- systolic and diastolic blood pressure;
- heart rate;
- positive and negative affect.
What the study found
Before the directed relaxation component, exposure to the singing bowl was associated with a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate than silence.
The difference in diastolic blood pressure did not reach conventional statistical significance.
Affect scores changed during both conditions. This means the study did not show that the singing bowl was uniquely responsible for the psychological changes.
What it means
This study provides some evidence that a short singing bowl exposure may influence immediate cardiovascular measures when added before directed relaxation.
It does not establish:
- long-term blood-pressure improvement;
- treatment of hypertension;
- a broad effect on emotional wellbeing;
- cellular healing;
- a mechanism involving chakras or energy;
- superiority over established relaxation practices.
The original NeuroLifts article incorrectly attributed this study to Goldsby and overstated its mood findings. Landry was the sole author.
Evidence weight: Preliminary but useful because it used a randomised crossover design.
Study 2: Goldsby and Colleagues’ 2017 Observational Study
Study: Goldsby, Goldsby, McWalters and Mills, Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-Being
What the researchers did
Sixty-two adults attended a sound meditation session using singing bowls and other instruments.
Participants completed measures before and after the session covering:
- tension;
- anger;
- fatigue;
- depressed mood;
- anxiety;
- pain;
- spiritual wellbeing.
What the study found
After the session, participants reported:
- less tension;
- less anger;
- less fatigue;
- less depressed mood;
- greater spiritual wellbeing.
Participants who were new to singing bowl meditation reported a greater reduction in tension than experienced participants.
Important limitations
This was a nonrandomised observational study without a control group.
Consequently, it cannot distinguish the effects of the bowls from:
- lying down and resting;
- the meditation environment;
- attention from the practitioner;
- expectation;
- group participation;
- other instruments used during the session;
- normal variation between measurements.
Participants also chose to attend the session, making them more likely to have positive expectations or an existing interest in the practice.
What it means
The study supports the conclusion that participants felt better immediately after the sound meditation.
It does not prove that singing bowls caused those changes or that the effects persist.
Evidence weight: Suggestive but low certainty.
Study 3: Bergmann and Colleagues’ 2020 Sleepiness Experiment
Study: Bergmann et al., Effects of Singing Bowl Exposure on Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and Pupillographic Sleepiness Test
What the researchers did
Forty-eight healthy participants completed two 20-minute conditions:
- resting in a hammock above a large struck singing bowl;
- resting in the same position above a silent bowl.
The study measured:
- subjective sleepiness using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale;
- objective sleepiness using a pupillographic test.
What the study found
Subjective sleepiness was lower after the struck-bowl condition than after the silent-bowl condition.
However, the objective pupillographic measure did not differ significantly between conditions.
What it means
The study produced a mixed result: participants described a difference, but the objective measure did not confirm it.
It does not establish that singing bowls improve sleep or treat sleep disorders. Daytime sleepiness after a single session is not the same outcome as sleep quality over time.
Evidence weight: Preliminary and mixed.
Study 4: Walter and Hinterberger’s 2022 Cohort Study
Study: Walter and Hinterberger, Neurophysiological Effects of a Singing Bowl Massage
What the researchers did
Thirty-four participants received a professional singing bowl sound massage.
Researchers measured:
- 64-channel EEG activity;
- heart rate;
- heart-rate variability;
- respiration;
- subjective wellbeing.
What the study found
The researchers observed changes in EEG power during and after the intervention. Mean heart rate was lower afterwards, while respiration rate was higher.
There was no statistically significant change in the reported heart-rate variability measures.
Participants also described feeling calmer, more balanced or more comfortable.
Important limitations
This was a small prospective cohort study without a separate control group.
Without a control condition, the measured changes could reflect:
- resting;
- lying still;
- focused attention;
- expectation;
- repeated measurements;
- the complete practitioner-led setting;
- the bowl intervention.
The EEG findings also should not be translated into claims that the bowl “rewired” the brain or placed every participant into a guaranteed state.
Evidence weight: Interesting mechanistic evidence, but very preliminary.
Study 5: Kim and Choi’s 2023 Brainwave Study
Study: Kim and Choi, Does the Sound of a Singing Bowl Synchronize Meditational Brainwaves in the Listeners?
What the researchers did
Seventeen healthy participants listened to a recording from one singing bowl.
The bowl produced a pulsing or beating component at approximately 6.68 Hz. EEG activity was measured at two frontal locations while participants listened.
What the study found
EEG spectral activity increased around the bowl’s beat frequency.
Because this frequency falls within the range commonly labelled theta, the authors suggested that it might be relevant to meditation.
Important limitations
The study:
- included only 17 people;
- tested one bowl;
- measured a limited number of EEG locations;
- focused on short-term spectral activity;
- did not demonstrate a health outcome;
- did not establish that participants entered a particular psychological state;
- did not show a lasting effect.
A measured EEG response at a sound’s pulsing frequency is not proof of emotional healing, improved cognition or general brainwave “entrainment.”
Evidence weight: Early experimental finding; insufficient for health claims.
What the Systematic Reviews Found
Systematic reviews attempt to gather and evaluate all eligible studies rather than relying on one positive result.
The 2020 review
Stanhope and Weinstein identified only four peer-reviewed studies examining human health outcomes associated with singing bowls.
The studies reported possible improvements across several psychological and physiological measures. However, the reviewers concluded that the number of studies was too small and the risk of methodological bias too high to recommend singing bowl therapy.
This was an appropriately cautious conclusion.
The 2025 Cai review
Cai and colleagues examined 19 clinical studies involving a wide range of populations and interventions.
Some studies reported improvements in:
- anxiety;
- depression;
- tension;
- sleep;
- cognitive measures;
- heart-rate variability;
- subjective wellbeing.
However, the overall picture was inconsistent.
Important issues included:
- different patient populations;
- different instruments and treatment protocols;
- small samples;
- poorly described randomisation;
- inconsistent control groups;
- high clinical and statistical heterogeneity;
- a mixture of randomised trials, case series and uncontrolled studies;
- insufficient data for several planned analyses;
- possible overestimation of benefits.
For sleep quality, pooled results from three randomised trials did not show a statistically significant overall benefit. Some individual studies were positive while others were not.
The review concluded that singing bowls may have potential, while also stating that the evidence base requires stronger, larger and better-controlled research.
The 2025 Lin review
A separate systematic review by Lin, Yang and Wang examined 14 quantitative adult studies.
It also found generally encouraging patterns for anxiety, mood and wellbeing, alongside substantial variation in study quality, intervention design and outcome measurement.
The existence of more studies is encouraging. It does not automatically produce high-certainty evidence when the underlying methods remain inconsistent.
Overall Evidence Assessment
Short-term relaxation
Some participants report feeling more relaxed after singing bowl sessions.
This finding appears repeatedly, but many studies cannot separate the bowl from quiet rest, meditation, expectation or the session environment.
Assessment: Promising but low-certainty evidence.
Stress and anxiety
Several studies report reductions in self-rated tension or anxiety. Some controlled trials are positive, while others use weak or absent comparison conditions.
Research does not yet establish singing bowls as a treatment for an anxiety disorder or chronic stress.
Assessment: Possible short-term benefit; insufficient clinical evidence.
Mood and emotional wellbeing
The Goldsby study reported meaningful pre–post changes, but it lacked a control group.
There is insufficient evidence to conclude that singing bowls treat depression or cause emotional release.
Assessment: Positive subjective findings; causation uncertain.
Heart rate and blood pressure
Landry found greater immediate reductions in systolic blood pressure and heart rate during bowl exposure compared with silence. Other findings across the literature are inconsistent.
Short-term changes during rest do not demonstrate treatment of hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Assessment: Preliminary and inconsistent.
Sleep
Research uses different outcomes, including daytime sleepiness, subjective sleep quality and sleep among clinical populations.
The 2025 systematic review did not find a significant pooled improvement in sleep quality across three randomised trials.
Assessment: Mixed evidence.
Brain activity
Small studies report changes in EEG measurements during or after singing bowl exposure.
These findings may help researchers develop future hypotheses. They do not establish that bowls:
- permanently synchronise brainwaves;
- rewire the brain;
- increase intelligence;
- improve mental health;
- consistently induce alpha or theta states;
- create the same response in every listener.
Assessment: Very preliminary.
What Research Has Not Established
Current evidence does not demonstrate that singing bowls:
- heal the body at a cellular level;
- remove toxins;
- strengthen immunity;
- release trauma stored in tissue;
- clear chakras or energy blockages;
- directly stimulate the vagus nerve;
- treat depression or anxiety disorders;
- cure sleep problems;
- improve cognition in healthy adults;
- work through the body’s water content;
- reliably produce a specific brainwave state;
- provide the effects associated with a labelled frequency;
- replace medical or psychological treatment.
Spiritual interpretations may be personally meaningful, but they should be distinguished from scientific findings.
For frequency-specific claims, read our guide to sound meditation frequencies. Our separate article examines the evidence surrounding singing bowls and binaural beats.
Why Might People Feel Better After a Session?
A positive experience does not need to be imaginary simply because the precise cause is uncertain.
Several elements may contribute:
- lying or sitting comfortably;
- taking time away from work and devices;
- focused listening;
- reduced environmental demands;
- expectation;
- personal meaning;
- the practitioner–participant relationship;
- a structured beginning and end;
- group atmosphere;
- the sound itself;
- the interaction of several factors.
A strong study attempts to separate these components. Most current singing bowl studies cannot yet do that reliably.
Does Experience Still Matter?
Yes—but experience and evidence answer different questions.
Personal experience can answer:
- Did I enjoy the session?
- Did I feel calmer afterwards?
- Was the sound comfortable?
- Did the practice help me pause?
- Would I choose to do it again?
Research attempts to answer:
- Does the intervention reliably outperform a suitable comparison?
- How large is the effect?
- How long does it last?
- Does it work across populations?
- What are the risks?
- Which part of the intervention causes the result?
A personally valuable experience does not prove a universal treatment effect. Equally, limited clinical evidence does not prevent someone from enjoying a low-risk meditation practice.
The responsible position is to respect the experience without turning it into a medical claim.
Read what to expect during singing bowl meditation for an experience-led guide.
Singing Bowl Safety
The 2025 Cai review reported no adverse events attributed to singing bowl interventions. However, absence of reported events is not proof that every practice is risk-free.
Sound volume and duration matter.
Use these precautions:
- begin at a low volume;
- keep bowls away from ears;
- sit further from gongs or loud crystal bowls;
- stop if you experience hearing pain or worsening tinnitus;
- tell the practitioner about sound sensitivity;
- change position if body placement is uncomfortable;
- do not tolerate distress because it is described as “release”;
- do not use a session instead of necessary healthcare.
Extra care may be appropriate for people with tinnitus, migraines, hearing difficulties, sensory sensitivity or conditions affected by intense sound.
How to Try Singing Bowl Meditation Responsibly
If you want to explore the practice:
- Choose a comfortable, low-volume setting.
- Begin with five to ten minutes.
- Use sound as an attention anchor.
- Avoid expecting a health transformation.
- Notice how you feel before and afterwards.
- Do not assign medical meaning to temporary sensations.
- Stop if the sound becomes uncomfortable.
- Seek professional advice for persistent symptoms.
To practise independently, see how to play a Himalayan singing bowl.
What Better Research Would Look Like
Future studies should include:
- preregistered methods;
- larger samples;
- credible control conditions;
- assessor blinding where possible;
- standardised instruments and session protocols;
- objective and subjective outcomes;
- longer follow-up;
- reporting of adverse events;
- replication by independent research groups;
- direct comparison with silent rest and established relaxation methods;
- separation of sound-only and body-contact interventions.
This would help determine whether singing bowls offer benefits beyond the broader effects of rest, meditation, music and expectation.
Final Verdict
The current evidence does not justify describing singing bowls as a medical treatment or a form of cellular healing.
It does support continued research.
Several studies show encouraging immediate changes in subjective tension, mood or relaxation. Some controlled research also reports short-term physiological differences. But the evidence is limited by small samples, inconsistent protocols, weak controls and a lack of long-term follow-up.
The most accurate conclusion is:
Singing bowl meditation may be a personally useful relaxation or meditation practice. Its clinical benefits, mechanisms and long-term effects remain uncertain.
You do not have to choose between experience and evidence.
Enjoy the experience if it feels helpful—and describe the evidence honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is singing bowl meditation scientifically proven?
No. Some studies report positive short-term findings, but the evidence is not strong or consistent enough to call the practice scientifically proven.
Can singing bowls reduce stress?
They may help some people feel less tense after a session. It remains unclear how much of the effect comes specifically from the bowls rather than rest, meditation, expectation or the setting.
Can singing bowls treat anxiety?
Singing bowls are not an established treatment for an anxiety disorder. They may be used as a complementary relaxation practice without replacing professional care.
Do singing bowls lower blood pressure?
One small randomised crossover study found immediate reductions in systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared with silence. This does not establish long-term blood-pressure treatment.
Do singing bowls improve sleep?
The findings are mixed. A 2025 review found no significant pooled improvement in sleep quality across three randomised trials.
Do singing bowls synchronise brainwaves?
One small EEG study found increased activity around a particular bowl’s beating frequency. The finding does not show lasting brainwave synchronisation or a proven health benefit.
Is the effect only a placebo?
That cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. Expectation and context may contribute, but sound may also affect attention and immediate experience. Better-controlled studies are needed to separate these influences.
Are singing bowls safe?
They appear low risk when used at a comfortable volume, but sound sensitivity, tinnitus and excessive volume require caution. Stop if the experience causes pain or distress.
References
- Landry JM. Physiological and psychological effects of a Himalayan singing bowl in meditation practice. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2014;28(5):306–309.
- Goldsby TL, Goldsby ME, McWalters M, Mills PJ. Effects of singing bowl sound meditation on mood, tension, and well-being. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2017;22(3):401–406.
- Bergmann M, et al. Effects of singing bowl exposure on Karolinska sleepiness scale and pupillographic sleepiness test. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(6):e0233982.
- Stanhope J, Weinstein P. The human health effects of singing bowls: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020;51:102412.
- Walter N, Hinterberger T. Neurophysiological effects of a singing bowl massage. Medicina. 2022;58(5):594.
- Kim SC, Choi MJ. Does the sound of a singing bowl synchronize meditational brainwaves in the listeners?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(12):6180.
- Cai Y, et al. Therapeutic effects of singing bowls: A systematic review of clinical studies. Integrative Medicine Research. 2025;14:101144.
- Lin FW, Yang YH, Wang JY. Effects of Tibetan singing bowl intervention on psychological and physiological health in adults. Healthcare. 2025;13(16):2002.