A 2023 study published in the European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education compared the anxiety-relieving effects of a Tibetan singing bowl sound-based treatment to a progressive muscle relaxation session that involves tensing and releasing muscles, or a control group that did not receive any treatment. Fifty adults experiencing high anxiety without a diagnosed anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to one of the three groups.

Before and during each 45-minute session, the researchers monitored each participant’s heart rate variability (HRV) and brain wave patterns, and they also collected self-reported anxiety assessments. The singing bowl group showed the strongest physiological signs of relaxation, including brain activity associated with calmness and increased HRV, which indicates the body is in a relaxed, restorative state. Both the singing bowl and muscle relaxation groups reported feeling less anxious than the control group, but the singing bowl group experienced the biggest reduction in self-reported anxiety. The study suggests that even one short session with a Tibetan singing bowl can create measurable psychological and physical relaxation.