Stress kills. Music offers us relief from stress in many ways. It helps us to open ourselves emotionally and let loose with feelings that may be causing disease. It inspires us to examine ourselves, our lives and our relationships. Through our mind and emotion, music can reduce stress.


Musical Prescriptions

Music also has measurable physical effects on the body. Certain kinds of music actually lower blood pressure and heartrate, regulate breathing and lower cholesterol. For individuals with hypertension and related conditions, music can be much more powerful (and safer) than many prescription drugs.

Our immune systems are being challenged every moment. Stress, pollution in the air, our water, our food; new strains of antibiotic-resistent bacteria; they all take a toll on our body's ability to fight disease. Despite the millions of dollars being spent on research, cancer is rampant today. Tuberculosis is actually becoming a problem again, and countless viruses are attacking from all directions. What can we do to reverse the ravages of a weakened immune system? Listen to and make music. Research has shown that alkaline music (such as soothing classical, East Indian, harp music and chant) actually increases the body's ability to ward off disease.

Healing Music in Hospitals

People undergoing surgery require less anaesthesia, awaken from anaesthesia more quickly and with less side effects, and heal more rapidly when healing music is played before, during and after the surgical procedure. Patients recovering from heart attacks and strokes respond much more quickly to treatment when soothing music is played in their rooms.

Many studies have shown the incredible effects that music has on chronic pain. People suffering from back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pain from injuries; all benefit from using music. Physical therapy is much more effective when combined with music. And burn victims experience much less pain when music they choose and enjoy is employed during their treatments.

Individuals suffering from depression need less medication and have more success in psychotherapy when music is added to their course of treatment. Grief, loneliness, even anger; are all managed much better when appropriate music is added to therapy. Autistic children and children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder all react positively to music therapy. Kids with learning disabilities show remarkable improvement in mathematics, reading and reasoning skills when they are exposed to appropriate music. The results are magnified many times when these same children have an opportunity to make music.

Music is a Powerful Healing Tool

That's true of anyone suffering from nearly any malady. Making music - the act of creating melodious sound - is an incredibly powerful healing tool. Physical, mental and emotional challenges are met so much more easily when one can make music! It doesn't have to be performance quality - it just has to be from the heart. Singing, humming, toning, whistling, beating a drum, playing a flute or harp or guitar or piano - anything. When music is made out of love, incredible healing occurs.

On the other hand, music that is negative, or filled with hate or fear, can be emotionally and physically damaging. It inspires more fear, and from fear comes imbalance and disease. And just as the sound of a jackhammer sets up painful vibrations in our ears, music with discordant frequencies or hateful lyrics sets up dissonant vibrations in our bodies and souls. We must be conscious of the negative effects of raucous sounds and negative music, and counteract them with positive music created out of love.

The health of the physical body is inextricably tied to our emotional, mental and spiritual health. Music is a powerful catalyst for healing because it touches the very core of humanity... our souls. With music, we can remember our connection to the Creator and the powerful Healer within. We can take control of our health and our lives as we enjoy The Healing Sound of Music.

Kate Mucci
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