The Healing Magic of Music

Music has contributed to society and culture since the beginning of time. It has the power to affect people in profound ways. It can give inspiration and encouragement in times of darkness. It can raise frequency and vibration and faciliate healing. Music has been used to inspire positive behaviour in groups at risk as well as to generally enhance the quality of life.

Music and Rituals

Singing, making and participating in and enjoying music is universal for all humanity. In some societies, music is considered an extension of the sounds of nature. In others, it is thought to be an extension of speech. In many societies, music and music-making is considered a natural part of life and a normal human ability and everyone or most in the society participate in it. Although there are societies in which some members specialize in music,in others, developing abilities in musical expression, such as traditional song, cheering and drumming are regarded as similar to learning to talk.
Differences in musical ability are considered to be the result of interest  rather than special ability.One of the major differences between western society and other societies is that in the western society, the ability to play and express oneself through music is considered a talent that only a few possess and listeners enjoy music in a more detached way. In many societies, music is connected with spirituality, charismatic religions and the supernatural and is used to help participants attain a trance-like state. It plays a big role in courtship, healing and mourning rituals throughout the world and has a profound influence on human emotions.Music can awaken powerful memories and while listening to a piece of music, the listener can experience again the emotion brought on by the recalled events. People can 'get the chills' when listening to their favorite music or music that has powerful meaning for them.

Music as a Healer

There is no doubt that music exerts a huge influence over our lives and mystics and sages have been aware of the healing powers of music throughout the ages. Scientific studies have now been done that confirm this. Wave forms permeate everything from solid objects to thoughts and emotions. Everything vibrates at a frequency. When we are feeling good in general, all aspects of ourselves are said to be in harmony but when we feel some kind of discomfort or 'out of sorts', sound vibrations can help bring us back into a state of harmony. Here are some of the ways in which music has been shown to facilitate healing.

The Healing Magic of Music

1) The brain loves harmony and stroke patients who are left with movement problems have  benefitted from using music therapy during their treatment. They re-learn to walk more quickly if they combine rhythmic training with physical therapy.

2) If the stroke affects the left side of the brain where the speech centers are located, alot of the communication ability will be eliminated But if the right side, where music is processed is not damaged, patients have been able to use 'melodic intonation therapy', which involves singing using two tones to communicate.

3) Music therapy was successfully used to reduce pain in burn patients . They experienced less pain when listening to their favorite music. Music that a person likes activates both the higher thinking centers in the brain's cortex and the ancient circuitry, the motivation and reward system.

4) Premature babies who hear lullabies appear to grow faster and gain more weight than those that don't and hospitalized children who play, sing and listen to music show a better immune response than those who don't.

5) Music has certainly been shown to benefit people suffering from mental illnesses. It can improve the mental state of those with schizophrenia and uplift those dealing with depression. Listening to music we enjoy stimulates the release of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Too little dopamine leads to memory loss, irrational thinking and schizophrenia but the right amount facilitates thoughts and feelings of happiness.

6) Humming has been found to be an effective way to clear blocked sinuses. It also relaxes and uplifts patients and can assist in relieving pain.

7) Music also helps us to utilize the left and right sides of the brain equally.This ability is common in professionally trained musicians and those exposed to music most of their  lives. Instrumental musicians often have to intergrate different melodic lines with both hands at the same time and give the music their own interpretation. This is linked to the right side of the brain. And they simultaneously read the music symbols, which is linked to the left side of the brain. Musicians were often found to have a higher I.Q. than non-musicians.

8) Music has been found to have positive effects on heart patients. Those who listen to music generally experience lower blood pressure, slower heart rates and less distress than those who didn't listen. They also appeared to be less anxious about their health than non-listeners.

9) Listening to our favorite music can trigger biological changes that increase nitric oxide production. This benefits the lining of the blood vessels and reduces the risk of heart disease.

10) Singing is a great aerobic activity for the heart too. It increases oxygen in the blood stream and gives muscle groups in the upper body a work out. Singing certainly has psychological benefits as it reduces stress levels and produces feelings of well-being. The positive effects of singing are increased even more when people sing together because of the sense of community and belonging that this gives.

11) The sound of music can accompany us as we work and it really eases the boredom of those repetitive tasks.

12) As well as uplifiting us emotionally, the music we listen to can be an outlet for our unexpressed emotions. A shy, quiet person who listens to dark, agressive music could be finding a release for unexpressed anger. A depressed person who listens to lively, upbeat music could find that the music generates more positive emotions. Music can be a coping mechanism, helping us to change our mood.

13) Music has helped Alzeimer's patients recover memories and nursing homes have used music therapy to help dementia patients interact again with loved ones.

14) Music has helped patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. It activates the brain's motor regions that interact with rhythm. When the patients follow a rhythm, they can walk more smoothly.

15) Music has helped in cases of pathological anxiety and post-traumatic-stress disorder.

Music is really an essential part of our lives and we can never underestimate the benefits of taking the time to enjoy it. Our lives are richer for it.