For more than 30 years, a remarkable audio technology has been helping people to relax, fall asleep, and even attain higher states of consciousness. This has been possible through unique CDs, called Hemi-Sync®, and they are amazingly effective. You may never have heard of them. Neither had I until 2004.
That is when I met Brian Dailey, M.D., F.A.C.E.P. Although he is a board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine, he also uses other healing modalities in his practice, such as Reiki, crystals, aromatherapy, and Hemi-Sync CDs. He said that these special CDs could change one’s ‘brainstate,’ and they could either rev you up, put you to sleep, or take you into higher states of consciousness, depending on the audio mix within the specific CD.
In his work as an E.R./Urgent Care physician, Dailey said that many of his patients are highly stressed, anxious, or angry, and need to calm down. By listening to a Hemi-Sync CD through headphones the patients are able to relax and become quiet. Dailey also told me that he uses these CDs himself, at home, to attain a high meditative state. When I asked him about using the CDs in his clinical practice, he said, “How many therapies do you know that only cost $15.00 and are reusable?”
Dailey said many scientific papers that have been published on this audio technology, and that a compilation book: “Focusing the Whole Brain,” edited by Ronald Russell (HamptonRoads Publishing), provides hundreds of pages of scientific validation. I was surprised to learn that certain Hemi-Sync recordings can benefit those with attention deficit disorder, insomnia, stress, and even chronic pain—merely by listening to a specific Hemi-Sync title. Dailey was also instrumental in creating “The Cancer Support Series,” a 4-CD set.
Children with autism as well, and other developmental disorders, can be helped by listening to Hemi-Sync. This is because the audio technology helps to create new neural pathways in the brain. “Surf” (for relaxation) and “Remembrance” (for mental alertness) are two such titles.
What is Hemi-Sync?
Hemi-Sync is short for “hemispheric synchronization.” This means that by using a patented audio technology, the two hemispheres of the listener’s brain are stimulated into working in a coherent, whole-brain, state. It does this by sending a series of tones into one ear, and slightly different tones into the other ear. The brain stem blends these two sound sources into a new, third sound, and it is the frequency of this new sound which can alter one’s state of consciousness. These brain frequencies are measured in brainwaves: Beta (high mental activity); Alpha (quietly relaxed); Theta (pre-sleep, meditative); Delta (sleep).
Achieving a whole-brain state is something that can take meditators years to achieve on their own. But with a Hemi-Sync CD, anyone can attain this state quickly. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reported that a Buddhist master, after using Hemi-Sync CDs, bought several meditation titles to take back to his students.
I was eager to hear one for myself. Dailey let me borrow a couple, suggesting that I listen to an introductory recording, “The Way of Hemi-Sync,” narrated by the Hemi-Sync creator, Robert Monroe, of Virginia. Dr. Dailey suggested I use headphones and lie down, since I would probably fall asleep while listening.
That night, I put the Hemi-Sync CD into my player, put on my headphones and lay on my bed. I heard the sound of ocean surf and the comforting, grandfatherly voice of Mr. Monroe. As I later learned, the Hemi-Sync audio signals were embedded in the sound of the surf, so I didn’t hear anything strange. Mr. Monroe’s voice guided me into successively deeper levels of relaxation. And yes, I did fall asleep.
The other CD was music, “Angel Paradise” by composer Erik Berglund. It is beautiful, soothing, very melodic and engineered to help the listener relax and go to sleep. If Angels could make recordings, they might sound just like “Angel Paradise.”
A visit to Hemi-Sync.com is well worthwhile. Robert Monroe’s daughter, Maria, hosts a 10-minute video, explaining how Hemi-Sync works.
Additionally, all of the hundreds of Hemi-Sync titles are listed, with descriptive notes about each recording. There are also titles which can facilitate lucid dreaming, enhance learning, stop smoking, help to ease the surgical experience, go out-of-body, and other intriguing offerings. At the moment, “The Way of Hemi-Sync” is available free of charge; one per customer.
Since first becoming acquainted with this remarkable audio technology 7 years ago, I am a regular listener of Hemi-Sync recordings. I prefer the guided meditations, where a person with a soothing voice takes me on a little journey of relaxation and exploration. But I will also play some of the music titles on my home music system, and this helps to create a peaceful atmosphere. If you are a little curious about these remarkable recordings, visit their web site and request the free “Way of Hemi-Sync” CD.
