Since ancient times, people of civilizations and cultures from everywhere in the world have recognized the healing properties and therapeutic benefits of music. Music therapy has been applied by both the Indian medicine man and western American physician alike. From the resonating hum of the didgeridoo to the gentle pounding of a leather drum, there are hundreds of instruments and musical practices that have been used through-out the ages to treat a multitude of illnesses and ailments. Here are 7 amazing therapeutic benefits of music.
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7 Amazing Therapeutic Benefits of Music
1. Music Can Be Highly Useful in the Treatment of Depression
Many believe relaxing music can be highly useful in the treatment of depression, and may even help increase the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. Tests on people treated with music therapy were found to have lasting results such as reduced heart rare, calmer breathing, and reduction of sadness and anger.
2. Music is Beneficial in Managing the Pain
Some individuals suffering from mild to moderate pain found that listening to music was beneficial in managing the pain and providing a sense of relaxation. This is why it is common for women to listen to soothing music during childbirth. Some believe that the vibrations of the music can affect ones inner-balance to alleviate feelings of pain.
3. Music is Beneficial in Improving the Quality of Sleep
Some test have found that music may help adults fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly through the night, and sleep for longer periods of time. Slow and melodic music has also shown to be beneficial in improving the quality of sleep in infants, evident in the way a baby will quickly doze off to the soft melody of a lullaby. There are people also who claimed to have less nightmares or instances of sleep walking when treated with healing music.
4. Music May Reduce the Risk of Heart or Brain Disease
A percentage of elderly persons suffering from dementia showed signs of improvement in the form of reduced aggression and agitation, increased ability to cooperate with day-to-day tasks, and in many cases, fewer episodes of erratic behavior. Many older patients who had been treated with music were shown to have less of a risk of heart or brain disease.
5. Healing Music has Been Shown to Ease Parkinson’s disease
In patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, healing music has been shown to lead to some improvement of motor skills, speech capabilities, and movement steadiness. Many patients also feel an improvement in life quality from undergoing music therapy due to decreased feelings of depression.
6. Music Therapy has Been Found to Help People with Autism
Music therapy has been found to be beneficial in helping children with autism improve their verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and over time may increase their ability to concentrate.
7. Music May Alleviate Feelings of Stress
The therapeutic benefits of music also include stress relief. It is believed that music may alleviate feelings of stress and lower blood pressure. Many doctors agree that music decreases tension and encourages steady heart rate and relaxed breathing. In one exercise of stress relief, patients are asked to close their eyes and concentrate on a certain instrument, then move on to the next, and then listen to the music as a whole. Some doctors believe this exercise works well to relieve stress because it gives the sufferer a sense of peace and unity.
Have you used music therapy and enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of music? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
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