Evaluating the sound magnetic balance intervention in a randomized controlled trial: Effects on psychological distress, somatic pain, and physiological arousal

The Sound Magnetic Balance Intervention (SMBI) is a novel integrated therapy that combines sound healing using Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, with magnetic meridian massage based on principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was the first to evaluate the combined effects of these modalities on psychological, physiological, and somatic outcomes. Forty-six university students (mean age = 20.65, SD = 2.24) with mild psychological distress were randomly assigned to receive SMBI as the intervention condition or one of two active controls, either calming music or an audio story. Compared to both control groups, SMBI significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress (p < .001, η² = 0.31–0.55), stagnation (p < .001, η² = 0.37), acupoint pain (p < .001, η² = 0.63–0.82), heart rate, and systolic blood pressure (p < .001, η² = 0.50–0.58), and also improved life satisfaction and spiritual well-being (p < .001, η² = 0.14–0.37). Delivered in three 30–35 min sessions and requiring only 10–15 h of practitioner training, SMBI is a non-invasive, cost-effective intervention with potential for use in clinical and community settings. Future research should investigate physiological and neurobiological mechanisms (e.g., cortisol, EEG) and examine integration with other TCM modalities. These findings position SMBI as a promising multisensory approach within the field of integrative mental health care. © 2026 Elsevier Inc.