Music Therapy: Healing the Soul as Well as the Body

Don McLean once asked in a song called American Pie "Can music save your mortal soul?" The answer to that is an emphatic: Yes! Music is found everyday in our lives. We go out to the store, music plays in our car or on the radio in the store softly over the loudspeaker. Riding in an elevator we are usually unwilling listeners to elevator music. Just taking a walk outside we are faced with the music of song birds going about their day. You hear music at church, school and just about everywhere you can go. Music can not only save your soul but it can help with many other human conditions.

Several Organizations, Universities and Non- Profit Organizations have done studies on just this issue. Researchers have found that through out time music in many forms has aided the human body in healing, overcoming illness and for overall wellness. Many countries from the United States to Germany have had studies done on music therapy and the results were often in favor of music.

In Germany a study in 1992 showed that patients who listened to music were less anxious, had less discomfort and healed quicker than patients who did not listen to music. The same results were found in similar studies in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Studies have found that music can also reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve respiratory functions, increase the level of melatonin directed to the brain which in turn improves the immune system in humans.

Music improves the quality of life we have over all. It has been used in several different religions for healing, wellness and general spirit uplifting. Shamans as well as modern medical doctors have turned to music as a way to heal the whole body instead of focusing on the disease causing harm.

To find out more information on the use of music in healing, physical therapy, spiritual guidance and the power of music on the brain check out these resources:

American Music Therapy Association, Inc.
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA
Phone: (301) 589-3300
Fax: (301) 589-5175

The Music Therapy Research Center

www.musictherapyresearchcenter.com

Alternateheals.com