Humming - A Powerful Stress Relief Tool

Humming lowers your stress more effectively than being sound asleep.

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at this study:

“Stress index was statistically significant for humming as compared even to sleep and, of course, the other two activities. In other words, the stress index was significantly lower during humming than during sleep, physical activity, and emotional stress.”

This is because…

Humming increases the activity of your parasympathetic nervous system.

The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems act opposite to each other. Your body is either in a state of fight or flight (sympathetic) or rest and digest (parasympathetic).

Parasympathetic dominance:

This is responsible for the majority of humming’s positive effects.

So… what else does humming do?

Humming triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin.

Endorphins are your body’s natural pain killers. They’re neurotransmitters (basically your brain’s chemical messengers) produced to alleviate pain, lower stress, and improve mood.

Oxytocin is often called the love hormone and the cuddle chemical. It’s a hormone and neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of trust, sexual arousal, bonding, and empathy.

Humming also boosts cognitive function and focus.

According to this study, 10 minutes of Bhramari Pranayama—an Indian humming practice—improved cognitive control, response inhibition, and stop-signal reaction time.

Which are key tests for brain function.

These improvements are due to humming’s ability to activate theta brain waves, which are associated with creativity & deep focus, and promote relaxation, which improves mental clarity over long periods of time.

And finally…

Humming increases nasal nitric oxide by 15,000% shown by this study.

What does this do?

Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, so it dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow. This supports your respiratory function by clearing your nasal passages, preventing infections, and reducing inflammation. It also leads to a more efficient oxygenation of the body.

This is helpful for those with sinusitis, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.

So how should you hum?

Here are 3 humming practices that support your health and wellbeing:

1. Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breathing): A yogic breathing technique that involves deep inhalation followed by a slow exhalation while producing a humming sound—like the buzz of a bee.

2. Humming Meditation: This is a form of meditation that focuses on producing a consistent humming sound to create vibrations within the body.

3. Sound Healing Practices: In sound therapy, participants hum in harmony with certain tones and frequencies to promote relaxation, balance the nervous system, and alleviate tension in the body.

You can also hum to music, during your daily chores, while concentrating at work, or before bed to fall asleep.

Try this out and tell me what you think in the poll below.

Until next time,

Kashif Khan

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your regular healthcare provider.