Music and medicine
Recently, music is being used increasingly as medicine. Countless research studies have been done on the healing benefits of music. In fact, there are over 900,000 references on music and healing. Even hospitals are beginning to use music in place of medicine and to aid in healing. Raymond Barr, head of the Coronary Care unit at Baltimore's St. Agnes Hospital says, "For adult patients, half an hour of music produces the same effect as ten milligrams of Valium." (Valium is a drug used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms).
One example of music being used as medicine is vibroacoustic therapy. At its base, music is sound, and sound is established in vibration. Led by Lee Bartel, PhD, a music professor at the University of Toronto, several researchers are exploring whether sound vibrations absorbed through the body can help ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia (chronic condition characterized by widespread pain) and depression. Vibroacoustic therapy is basically using low frequency sound (similar to a low rumble) to make vibrations that are applied straight to the body. During vibroacoustic therapy, the patient lies on a mat or bed or sits in a chair embedded with speakers that transmit vibrations at specific computer-generated frequencies that can be heard and felt. Researchers led by Lauren K. King of the Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario, found that short-term use of vibroacoustic therapy with Parkinson's disease patients led to improvements in symptoms, including less rigidity and better walking speed with bigger steps and less tremors.
Music also helps boost the immune system, partly because it de-stresses people. In a study, researchers tested 300 people, asking them to listen to 50 minutes of happy, joyful dance music or to a random collection of tones. They found that levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, decreased greatly in those listening to the dance music compared to the group listening to tones. After listening, the levels of the antibody immunoglobin A, the immune system's first line of defence were increased.
Music, especially classical music, has been recently used increasingly for healing epilepsy and other brain sicknesses. Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist who has written many professional papers and books, and done studies on Parkinson's Disease, Tourette's Syndrome, and Alzheimer's has said, "Whenever I get a book on neurology or psychology, the first thing I look up in the index is music; and if it's not there, I close the book." Mozart's music has been shown to benefit the brains of some epilepsy patients, studies have shown. Participants in the study included a coma patient and a child who has many seizures in an average day. The research showed a significant improvement for many of the patients who listened to Mozart. The child, for example, saw a large drop in the number and length of her seizures. Thanks to the many studies done on epilepsy and music, we now know that music affects the EEG (recording of electrical activity along the scalp) in the entire cortex, and not, as once thought, in just a part of the brain. Music played at a moderate or moderately fast tempo, without too many sudden changes in dynamics (loud and soft), helps to normalize the EEG.
Music, especially classical music, has been recently used increasingly for healing epilepsy and other brain sicknesses. Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist who has written many professional papers and books, and done studies on Parkinson's Disease, Tourette's Syndrome, and Alzheimer's has said, "Whenever I get a book on neurology or psychology, the first thing I look up in the index is music; and if it's not there, I close the book." Mozart's music has been shown to benefit the brains of some epilepsy patients, studies have shown. Participants in the study included a coma patient and a child who has many seizures in an average day. The research showed a significant improvement for many of the patients who listened to Mozart. The child, for example, saw a large drop in the number and length of her seizures. Thanks to the many studies done on epilepsy and music, we now know that music affects the EEG (recording of electrical activity along the scalp) in the entire cortex, and not, as once thought, in just a part of the brain. Music played at a moderate or moderately fast tempo, without too many sudden changes in dynamics (loud and soft), helps to normalize the EEG.
One of the most common uses of music, especially in hospitals, is music therapy. Many patients are using music to soothe nerves and anxiety before and after surgeries. "Selection of music is very personalized," says Joanne V. Loewy, PhD, director of the music therapy program at New York's Beth Israel Medical Center. "For some, classical music might work best, for others it might be jazz. It depends very much on the person. Music therapy is about being in the moment and adapting music to fit the patient's needs," Loewy says. "There are no distinct recipes." According to Loewy, music therapy is used in hospitals to ease pain and work as a pain killer. Loewy says, "There's a belief that music and pain are processed along the same nerve pathways. So if we have a patient playing or focusing with the music, they won't feel the pain."
Music therapy has also been shown to help people who suffer from asthma. Apparently, asthma sufferers can learn to breathe and gain better breath control by blowing a horn or other wind instrument, Loewy says. "They're working lung muscles, but they're also creating something." With asthmatics, music therapy does not replace medications, but it is used together with them to enhance their effects. Research shows that asthma medications actually work better when the patient is relaxed, Loewy says.
Music therapy has also been shown to help people who suffer from asthma. Apparently, asthma sufferers can learn to breathe and gain better breath control by blowing a horn or other wind instrument, Loewy says. "They're working lung muscles, but they're also creating something." With asthmatics, music therapy does not replace medications, but it is used together with them to enhance their effects. Research shows that asthma medications actually work better when the patient is relaxed, Loewy says.
As mentioned in the “Benefits of Music” section, hospitals are using music to help premature babies grow. Just one hour of music every day helps babies "eat more, sleep more, gain more weight. These babies are very compromised. They're on machines. The environment is typically very loud and noisy. Music softens the environment and soothes them," Loewy says. Another study was conducted by Dr. Dror Mandel and Dr. Ronit Lubetzky at Tel Aviv University. They played half an hour of Mozart every day to premature babies, with amazing results. The babies who listened to the music grew much faster than those who weren’t listening to the music. The researchers still aren’t sure what is causing the effect, but they think it has to do with the calming effects of classical music, which can help reduce stress and boost the immune systems of listeners even as young as babies.
Mental and mood disorders (such as depression) have also been shown to improve with the aid of music. "Being in the hospital is anxiety-producing in itself," says Paul Nolan, director of music therapy education at MCP Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. "Facing a catastrophic illness also affects emotional well-being. Some patients are reluctant to work with a psychiatrist because of the stigma, but they're not resistant to working with a music therapist." Through music, the therapist works to "attract that which is healthy in the person," Nolan says. "The music therapist isn't so concerned with the direct medical illness. They're working to change mood ... creating a feeling of support for the patient." The music connects them with memories, associations, thoughts, and helps them relax, he says. Nolan also says that even if the memories are negative, it is not a problem, because then the patient can talk about them. If the patient kept the bad memories to themselves, it builds tension, but if they release them, they also release the tension.
Dementia patients also greatly benefit from music. “Sometimes, they will refuse to see anybody and won't cooperate with doctors. They can't converse with people ... they won't recognize a spouse of 60 years, but they will recognize the song 'Amazing Grace'. Even if just for a few moments, the music provides an orienting response to time and place and person,” says Nolan. Nolan says that the music is adjusted to suit the patient. The tempo, tension etc. in the music is all relevant off the patient’s response, and in this way, doctors can be sure the music being played is really the most beneficial it could be.
Music has been shown to help patients who experienced heart failure. "These patients do not leave the hospital," says Cheryl Dileo, PhD, music therapy professor at Temple University. "In some cases, they're here more than a year. Research shows that patients like this ... are under a great deal of stress. We've found that music therapy improves their heart rate, blood pressure, sleep -- the demands placed on the heart." According to Dileo, the music opens many doors for the patients. "[Patients] feel more like talking after the sessions," she says. "Music brings people together ... helps them feel less isolated. It spontaneously stimulates discussion, memories, feelings. This is an opportunity for patients to express their feelings in a safe environment.
