Are you among those people who put their earphones while travelling or worker to help you to relax to better focus? Do you consider music to be a wonderful way to unwind and de-stress? If your answer to these questions is yes then you are unaware that you are in fact tuning in to one of the oldest forms of therapy, and that is music therapy.
Our link to music starts early on in our life. Gentle soothing music is known to calm fetuses and enable them to sleep. Moreover, the use of music as a healing influence, is as known to be at least as old as the writings of Plato and Aristotle.
Lately, the enhanced responses of patients who were exposed to music while they were recuperating in hospitals, have led to music being used as an established and sure form of substitute treatment. Doctor Suresh Chandra, a dental surgeon based in Mumbai, plays soothing instrumental music recordings when he attends his patients. He explains that the reason for doing so is that the majority of patients are very scared when visiting a dentist. Therefore, by playing music the patients’ mind is diverted and they calm down.
Music as a healing instrument
Music therapy forms part of alternative medicine that makes use of music in order to address emotional, physical social as well as cognitive needs of persons of various ages. It enhances the quality of life in people who are already enjoying a sound health and also meets the requirements of those people who are suffering from illness or disability. There are various instances where the use of music has been attested to be effective:
• The Journal of Advanced Nursing (2002) published a study whereby it was quoted that music that is played by headphones help in reducing anxiety in patients while they received hospital care.
• Studies have shown that conditions like cancer, surgery, high blood pressure, labor pain, the Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions related to the aging process, brain injuries and substance abuse problems respond very well to music therapy.
• According to a current research, patients who listened to music while they were in the surgical holding area experienced lesser significantly less anxiety and stress.
• Music therapy can also used as an effective intervention when dealing with autistic children, who are otherwise generally difficult to handle therapeutically. These children seem to demonstrate an unusual sensitivity and react well to interventions that are designed with the help of music.
Source: Bolo Health
Sun, Apr 25, 2010
Anti Aging, Lifestyle