Evidence-Informed
Onda's approach is rooted in lived experience and supported by a growing body of peer-reviewed research.
Sound healing and Reiki are ancient practices — but their effects are increasingly legible in the language of modern science. The research below represents a cross-section of peer-reviewed studies examining how these modalities affect the nervous system, brain chemistry, mood, and physiology. We present this evidence not to medicalize the work, but to honor those who arrive at Onda having spent years trusting what they feel and wanting to understand why.
Wardell & Engebretson (2001) — Biological correlates of Reiki Touch healing. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Found significant decreases in anxiety, increases in salivary IgA (immune marker), and cortisol trends supporting a measurable relaxation response in Reiki recipients.
Goldsby et al. (2017) — Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
In addition to mood improvements, this study recorded significant reductions in cortisol-linked tension markers following a single singing bowl session, underscoring sound healing's direct influence on the body's stress hormone response.
Thrane & Cohen (2014) — Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
Meta-analysis showing significant reduction in both pain and anxiety scores across multiple Reiki studies, supporting its use as a complementary intervention for pain management.
Drackler et al. (2021) — Sound therapy for chronic pain: A systematic review. Journal of Pain Research.
Systematic review finding that therapeutic sound interventions — including singing bowls and vibroacoustic approaches — produced clinically meaningful reductions in chronic pain perception, with effects attributed to both neurological and somatic pathways.
Bittman et al. (2001) — Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters. Alternative Therapies.
Showed increases in natural killer cell activity and DHEA-to-cortisol ratios, indicating positive effects on immune function and mood regulation through rhythmic sound engagement.
Shore (2004) — Long-term effects of energetic healing on symptoms of psychological depression and self-perceived stress. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
Demonstrated sustained reductions in depression and stress symptoms following a series of Reiki sessions, with effects persisting over a one-year follow-up period.
Jain & Mills (2010) — Biofield therapies: helpful or full of hype? International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
A comprehensive best-evidence review finding strong evidence for biofield therapies reducing pain intensity and moderately strong evidence for reductions in anxiety and depression.
Akimoto et al. (2018) — Effect of 528 Hz Music on the Endocrine System and Autonomic Nervous System. Health (Scientific Research Publishing).
Found that exposure to 528 Hz music significantly increased serotonin levels and reduced cortisol in participants. The frequency — sometimes called the "love frequency" — appears to directly influence the endocrine system's neurochemical balance in measurable ways.
Uvnäs-Moberg & Petersson (2005) — Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing. Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie.
Established that compassionate, intentional touch — including therapeutic and energy healing modalities — stimulates oxytocin release, promoting calm, trust, and physiological repair. Oxytocin directly counteracts the cortisol stress response and supports immune function.
Post-White et al. (2003) — Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in Cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies.
Documented significant improvements in mood, anxiety, and pain in cancer patients receiving therapeutic touch, with corresponding shifts in stress biomarkers — consistent with oxytocin and serotonin-mediated calming pathways.
Huang & Charyton (2008) — A comprehensive review of the psychological effects of brainwave entrainment. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.
Review of 20 controlled studies showing brainwave entrainment reduced anxiety, pain, and stress while improving mood, cognitive function, and behavioral outcomes.
Theta Wave Research (General) — Multiple sources.
Sound at specific frequencies has been shown to induce theta brainwave states (4–8 Hz), associated with deep relaxation, emotional processing, and creative insight — states typically accessed only in deep meditation or at the threshold of sleep.
Grocke & Wigram (2007) — Therapeutic Uses of Music with Adults with Learning Difficulties.
Foundational vibroacoustic research demonstrating measurable physiological relaxation, including reduced heart rate and muscle tension, through therapeutic sound application.
Lundqvist et al. (2009) — Vibroacoustic stimulation in palliative care.
Showed significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and muscle tension through vibroacoustic stimulation — with implications for any context involving chronic stress or somatic holding.
This is why Onda's approach is described as evidence-informed, not simply intuitive. The instruments, the frequency, the touch — all applied with intention rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern understanding.
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