Music as Medicine: How Music Can Help You Heal

By: Guest Author

Published: May 14, 2019

Written by Curtis Dean -Guest Contributor

As time passes by, your preference for music apparently changes. But whether you like jazz or classical music genre, the love and appeal for music remain the same. As it happens, music plays an integral role in our lives.

For some reason, many people find certain joy and comfort with the music of their choice. But did you know that music can actually make you feel happy? And so much more, did you know that music can actually heal you?

Well, healing has a wide meaning. But whether you are referring it in relation to one’s physical or mental condition, music can resolve these and eventually heal you from the inside to the outside. This is why music therapy has become very popular these days.

Music Therapy Today

As mentioned, music therapy has become very popular today. In fact, almost all healthcare institutions and clinics in recent years are utilizing this kind of therapy in their respective sessions.

Even so, it is worth noting that music therapies are different from music lessons.

In a music therapy session, the patients are guided by the appropriate music therapist. And during the session, the patients are usually asked to listen to music, dance to the beat, play a few instruments, meditate into the sound, and a lot more activities that have something to do with music.

For many adults from ages 40 and above, this kind of therapy is very much helpful as it is found that music heals various kinds of conditions, especially the ones relating to mental and emotional states.

Healing Through Music

These are the main points on how music can help you with your healing:

Eases Nervousness

Stress has become rampant these days, especially to the adults who have several things on their respective plates. And being stress apparently affects the quality of life. In fact, nervousness, anxiety, and depression is all relating effects to stress.

Luckily, INC found out that music largely decreases the production of stress hormones or cortisol. And when this happens, it naturally eases the tension and nervousness that one would feel under extreme stress. In one study that has been conducted, the participants showed a decline of 65% in terms of their nervousness and stress levels upon hearing the music of their own choice.

Stress Relief

As specified above, listening to music has been found to decrease the release of cortisol into the body. As it happens, cortisol is the main component of stress. Hence, when an adult feels so much pressure and stress, the levels of cortisol is at its peak. But since music naturally decreases this production, one would definitely experience the apparent stress relief.

Improves Cognitive Function

As people age, the functions of the brain actually deteriorate. This is why there are some who would experience minor memory loss from time to time or even a slow pick-up of information. But, thankfully, music has been found to improve the brain in almost all aspects.

There are already a lot of studies today that show how music significantly improves cognitive functions and the other relating brain functions. Apparently, there is a connection between the neurons that work with these functions and the auditory neurons.

According to Ho, listening to music activates the primary motor cortex that is largely responsible for the brain’s overall functions.

Easing Anxiety and Discomfort During Procedures

People from ages between 40 and 60 have a huge chance that they’ve already experienced various medical procedures. And for those who have, then you already know how anxious these processes could be. But did you know that music relieves anxiety?

Moreover, music can also relax you and make you feel calm that naturally dissolves all discomfort during the process. Thanks to its ability that can decrease the stress hormones dramatically, one would feel a lot better and calmer even when subjected to medical procedures.

Decreases Nausea During Chemotherapy

In a study conducted by Ezzone and Baker, these experts found out that listening to music decreases and lessen the nauseous feeling during chemotherapy. As it appears, they have subjected 35 patients who underwent a bone marrow transplant to listen to music during the therapy.

And based on the results, music has become very successful in making them feel much relaxed and calm which eventually decreased the nauseous feeling.

Improving Quality of Life for People With Dementia

Dementia has been one of the most common conditions for many adults today. And this kind of condition is actually challenging.

But in light of the recent studies, it has been claimed by the American Music Therapy Association that music is now a necessity for people who suffer from dementia. And this is because music is found to lessen the symptoms and eventually improve the quality of life of these adults.

Now, these points are actually only some of the main healing benefits of music. In fact, there are a lot more studies that show the other apparent benefits of music when it comes to healing. So, if you are experiencing a few bumps in your life today, try incorporating more music into your life and see the results for yourself.

The views expressed herein this article, written by a guest contributor, do not necessarily represent those of the Red Hot Mamas organization. The content is for informational purposes and should not substitute the advice of your doctor.