We all know that sounds, such as music, are soothing, yet sometimes stimulating or even irritating vibrations. Music has been shown however to help aid the healing process and just make life more pleasant. Viktoras Kulvinskas has written, “The harmonies and rhythms present in music heal and stimulate the subtle bodies of people. Music induces emotional states by creating certain vibrational activities within the astral and mental bodies.”
People are not the only ones who can benefit from pleasant sound, animals, and even plants, have been known to respond as well.
Some have speculated that music rhythms essentially organize the body. Some even believe that music therapy is a medium through which the organization is “regained by linking the brain, body, and music.” Changes in brain waves due to music exposure (specifically converting from theta to alpha or beta rhythms) have been measured with and E.E.G. for coma patients. This same report showed that even improvised singing may offer help for comatose patients. Another study found that combining relaxation breathing techniques and soothing music resulted in lower cardia complications for people with coronary concerns.
Music therapy has been found to help children who were developmentally delayed, it seemed to improve their hearing and speech, hand-eye coordination, and personal-social interaction. One study found that surgeons did a faster and more accurate job when they listened to music.
Some reports have indicated that music helps some sleep, remove stress, builds muscle tone (especially when singing), calms thoughts, and relieves some headaches. However, what soothes one, may agitate another. Slow music tends to sedate us more than fast music, strings and woodwinds seem more soothing that trumpets or trombones, and many find the most relaxing music to be other than rock or jazz. Some music professionals say music therapy works best when there are no lyrics on which to focus.
Music and sound must help with loneliness this may be one reason that people who are alone listen to music (or sometimes simply have the television on without watchin it). It is believed that the sound of the voice may support the endocrine system and that music itself stimulates healing.
To use music, many find that they need to listen to a variety of pieces to determine what works best. And for sleeping, some advise listening to the same piece each night (once you find which one works best for you). To calm down, some suggest writing down feelings while listening. Some believe visualization techniques while listening or doing breathing exercises. Music actually has been called one of the most ancient of healing arts. Even the Bible talks about sound. The sound of a bubbling brook is likened to the fountain of wisdom (Proverbs 18:4) and when one is happy one is encouraged to sing (James 5:13).
There is a distinct difference between music and NOISE. “Noise is an environmental pollutant derived specifically from the technological age.” Noise pollution is becoming an increasingly significant problem.
There is a report (anecdotal), that magnesium supplementation may help with noise intolerance, but that does not mean it is recommended that people working in a noisy environment should take necessarily additional Magnesium.
Might I suggest that you experiment with a variety of different music genre’s, specifically reach for some instrumental pieces as well and simply let your body “FEEL”, the musical flow, the rhythm, allow it to relax your breathing. Allow music to make a joyful noise to your body/health!
References:
- Kulvinskas, V. Survival into the 21st Century, 21st Century Publications, Woodstock Valley (CT) 1975
- Aldridge, D., et al. Where am I? music Therapy Applied to Coma Patients. J Roy Soc Med, 1990: 83:345-346
- Guzzetta CE, et al. Effects of Relaxation and Music Therapy on Patients in a Coronary Care Unit with Presumptive Acute Myocardial Infarction. Heart and Lung, 1989:18 (6):609-616
- Aldridge, D., et al. A pilot Study of Music Therapy in the Treatment of Children with Developmental Delay. Complementary Therapies, In Med, 1995; 3:197-205
- Allen, K and Blasovich, J. Effects of music on Cardiovascular, Reactivity Among Surgeons. MAMA, 1994;272 (11):882-884
- Scofield, M. Music Therapy: Melodies that Mellow, In Everyday Health Tips. Rodale Press, Emmaus (PA) 1988
- Harding, S. More Noise or Sound Therapy? Alt & Compl Ther, 1999; 5(3):164-174
- Godlee, F. Noise: Breaking the Silence. Brit Med J, January 11, 1992: 1101-113
- Bahadori, R. and Bohne, B. Adverse Effects of noise on hearing. Am Fam Phys: April 1993: 1219-1226
- Freidman, B. Magnesium for restless sleepers. Cordlandt Forum, 1992; 121-48
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