What is a Didgeridoo?

The didgeridoo is an ancient Aboriginal Australian instrument. It is considered to be one of the oldest wind pipe or drone instruments in the world. The didgeridoo is traditionally made from hollowed out branches from eucalyptus trees, also from bamboo. Beeswax is formed around one end of the tubular instrument to create a mouthpiece. The beeswax will soften and form a seal around the player's mouth when the didgeridoo is being blown.

Didgeridoo Sound Therapy

Using the didgeridoo as a healing tool did not originate from the Aboriginal culture. Didgeridoo sound therapy is not so much a specialized therapy in of itself, but the didgeridoo instrument is used by some harmonic healers to benefit our physical, emotional, and spiritual components.

Musician and didgeridoo "blower" Joseph Carringer has carved out a niche for himself in the holistic healing community as a sound therapist specializing in playing the didgeridoo. Carringer says the therapeutic sound wave effects from the didgeridoo are comparative to therapeutic ultrasound therapy used to treat chronic pain conditions. Another healer who has been dubbed Didgeridoo Medicine Man is Phil Jones. Jones uses a didgeridoo as a dowsing rod in his Didgeridoo Vibrational Therapy sessions. He focuses on the spiritual core of his clients. He primarily works on balancing and unblocking the chakra centers, particularly the heart chakra.

Circular Breathing

Circular breathing is the technique used in playing the didgeridoo. It involves loose lips and puffy air-filled cheeks (how to do it). Circular breathing is also an alternative therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea.

Other Names for Didgeridoo

Other names and alternate spellings for the didgeridoo include Didjerido, didjeridu, didge, didg, and Yadiki.

What Does the Didgeridoo Instrument Sound Like?

Video/Sound Clips:

• Aboriginal man playing the Didjeridoo
• Didgeridoo Sound Therapy
• Didgeridoo Sound Healing by Astari

Benefits of Didgeridoo Sound Therapy include:

• Inducing meditative or relaxed states
• Clearing energetic blockages
• Releasing emotional traumas
• Vibrational "sound" massage
• Opens and balances chakra centers
• Therapy for treatment of sleep apnea

Further Reading

Interviews with didgeridoo sound therapists Phil Jones and Joseph Carringer:

• Didgeridoo Medicine Man: Phil Jones
• Ancient Sound of Didgeridoo Used in Holistic Healing with Joseph Carringer
• Portsmouth Man Blows Up Alternative Medicine: Joseph Carringer

Learn about other Shamanic Sound Makers

_{Photo of Aboriginal Didgeridoo Musician © Sergio Dionisio / Getty Images}

_{Sources: didgetherapy.com, philjonesmusic.com}