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 The beauty and importance of water captivates the eye and enchants the ear. A growing number of people are coming alive to the effects of indoor, outdoor, and wall water fountains. |
| According to Homeworld Business magazine, the market for indoor, outdoor, and wall water fountains or, as the industry calls them, “calming ponds” has exploded within the past four years from an estimated 100,000 units to 1-million in 1999 and on to 3 to 5-million in 2000. |  |
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its website, New York State, based beyond the rainbow, had this to say about the sound of fountains. “Listening to a fountain is like sitting beside a waterfall or swiftly flowing stream - the sound of water is soothing and relaxing. It helps to block out less harmonious noises, and if we focus on it - it can also block out the inharmonious noises inside our own minds.” |
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Ten patients dealing with cancer and chronic pain watched a 30-minute videotape at least 15 minutes of which was devoted to the sounds of the ocean waves, waterfalls, creeks, and the splashing sounds of birds playing in water. Over the course of the video, patients experienced a 20 to 30 percent reduction in detrimental stress hormones such as epinephrine (also known as adrenaline which causes high blood pressure and elevated heart rate) and cortisol (known to cause steroid-like release of sugar into the blood stream).
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