Brainwave entrainment is a method to stimulate the brain into entering a specific state by using a pulsing sound, light, or electromagnetic field. The pulses elicit the brain’s ‘frequency following’ response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.
alpha brain waves | soft calming music
My friend uses a “secret method” to wake up early in the morning. Just before going to sleep, she tells her pillow to wake her up at a particular time, visualizes the clock at that time and imagines waking up refreshed. After the short exercise, she lies down to sleep. She’s never been late so far. Her ‘technique’ is a simplistic example of what your subconscious mind can do for you. In a way that answers the question: “sleep programming does it work?

Psychotherapists have been using hypnosis for several decades with subliminal messages to improve people’s lifestyle. In a state of hypnosis, the analytical mind is subdued and the powerful subconscious takes over helping you change habits from the deepest levels. But, hypnosis sessions last barely an hour with a therapist and a self-hypnosis CD can be used only thrice a day.

Sleep programming is a step further. It works on the same premise of sending habit-altering messages to your subconscious but the process continues for almost eight hours that you are asleep.

Sleep programming uses mind-programming scripts, powerful music with binaural and monaural beats. The CD plays while you are asleep. The script puts you into deep slumber and the verbal commands of the hypnotist direct your mind and thoughts to the inner-most recesses of your mind. The music with special brainwave technology is woven with subliminal messages. With sleep programming you can therefore, intensify the benefits of self-hypnosis. It shows different results for every individual. However, you must not use sleep programming CDs while driving or using machinery.

Sleep programming using a CD created by a trained therapist can work almost like magic helping you achieve weight loss, gain confidence, give up smoking, become more patient etc. However, it supplements your current health program and cannot be a replacement for any treatment. Also, before you buy anything, ensure that the therapist has valid credentials.
Brainwave entrainment is a method to stimulate the brain into entering a specific state by using a pulsing sound, light, or electromagnetic field. The pulses elicit the brain’s ‘frequency following’ response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.

This ‘frequency following’ response of brainwave entrainment can be seen in action with those prone to epilepsy. If a strobe flashes at their seizure frequency, the brain will ‘entrain’ to the flashing light, resulting in a seizure.

On the positive side, this same mechanism is commonly used to induce many brainwave states; such as a trance, enhanced focus, relaxation, meditation or sleep induction. The brainwave entrainment effectively pushes the entire brain into a certain state.

Brainwave entrainment works for almost everyone. It is a great way to lead your mind into states that you might usually have difficulty reaching, allowing you to experience what those states feel like.

THE HYPE
There is a lot of marketing hype around brainwave entrainment. It is sold with promises of increasing IQ, promoting weight loss, ‘mind-tripping’, enhancing creativity, concentration, inducing spiritual states and more.

While these claims are not entirely true, they are not altogether false either. In practice, the claims are based on an overly-simplistic view of how the brain and the brainwaves function.
THE RUB
People are very seldom deficient in a certain brainwave type in all areas of their brain. Usually the distribution is much spottier, with an excess in one area and a deficiency in another.

We are all different, especially when it comes to the distribution of our brainwaves. Boosting a certain brainwave state may be beneficial for one person, and emotionally uncomfortable for another. Without knowing each person’s starting position, entrainment can be rather ‘hit and miss’.

If brainwave entrainment leaves you with unwanted side-effects (see below) or discomfort, you’re probably encouraging a range of brainwaves that are already excessive in some area of your brain. The way around this is to get a brain map to see what your brain’s strengths and weaknesses are, and see what (if any) brainwaves could use some encouragement.