Music for health

ABSTRACT

A quiet revolution is taking place in the field of health. More and more people are seeking alternative healing methods. They are tired of invasive, costly, potentially harmful treatments, yet they are dubious of alternative therapies that involve other specialists, strange belief systems, and which can make the doctor's visit seem cheap. They seek a wholistic approach to heatlh. Hospital are realizing the importance of Arts in Medicine and are including them in their programmes. Music as a healing tool is being used in many area of Medicine as it was used in ancient times. Many ancient healers used sound, chants and music in their healing. Psychoneuroimmunology now explains how "Body, Mind and Spirit" have to be dealt with for real treatment to occur and "Right Attitude" is now accepted as the key in the business of curing illnesses. Patients need to be participants in their health care and realize that negative thoughts and attitudes are contributing to their health status and that music can assist them in changing this. Music has the ability to change our moods, beliefs and attitudes and is now playing a major role in relief of stress, one of the major causes of illness. This study shows how music can effect the body, what extensive research has uncovered scientifically, and how music can be used in different areas of medicine. It reveals how important it is for physicians and other health care workers to cognisant of and to include music in their approach to healing.(AU)