Music cannot be undermined as studies has shown it to be beneficial in the management of some psychological conditions.
Before we discuss, let's identify some terms used;
what's therapeutic?
It is gotten from the word therapy which means treatment of physical or mental illness..
What is music?
Music on it's own simply means combination of sounds that are pleasant to the ear.
How do we hear music?
Sounds travels as vibrations which enters the ear, passing through different parts of the ear and into the inner ear, where the signals are sent into the brain, which then interprets it into the music we hear.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy involves using a person’s connection and responses to music, to encourage positive changes in mood and overall well being.
Music therapy may include: writing of music, producing music with different instruments, singing, dancing, just listening to it or improvisation of sounds ( it involves forming songs from things happening at the moment).
History of music therapy
Music has been in existence for over 40,000 years ago. This has shown music is a part of life of humans and not just combination of sounds. Am not the first person who has thought of using music to heal ailments, the ancients Greek were the first to use such means in treating people.
Music therapy became generally accepted after world war II.
How it works?
Sounds enters the ear and then the whole process is centred on the nervous system.
Parts of the nervous system which are generally involved include;
● Cerebellum: this forms part of the hind brain, it is also called the little brain. The cerebellum processes the rhythm.
● Frontal lobe : Interpretes the emotional signals sent by the music.
● Right temporal lobe : A small portion of it helps to understand pitch.
● The Nucleus accumbens: Also known as the reward centre of the brain, produces strong physical signs of pleasure such as goosebumps, while listening to music.
Having seen the parts of the brain involved in this process, lets look at the therapeutic effect of music on an individual.
Therapeutic effect of music
● Boast the immune system
Researches have shown that music has a positive effect on our immune system. How ? Okay! When you are stressed, it is as a result of the stress hormones namely : Adrenaline, cortisol and Norepinephrine that are released, the tend to weaken the body's immune function. When a music therapy is administered on such an individual, it leads to a boast of the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and mostly Immuglobulin A.
● Lowers blood pressure
An increased in blood pressure could be as a result of many pathological conditions like aneurysm, stroke, chronic kidney disorder and many more, in such conditions , if music therapy is administered along side with blood pressure drugs, positive changes are sure if happening. Classical music are preferred in such instances as they tend to activate the parasympathetic system and also reduce the sympathetic system; by carrying out such activities, there is a decrease in heart rate which will result in the lowering of the blood pressure.
● Pain Management
Yeah! Music therapy can be used in the management of pains.
Music serves as a form of distraction, thereby directing the listener's attention from the pain, what happens during the process is that sensory stimulations evokes a response in the patient.
I use this most times during my wife's menstrual cramps and it has been working for us. All I needed to do is to make her listen to soothing music: RnBs and classicals are perfect suggestions. Always begin every song with the frequency of the pain, it keeps the pain receptors in you brain busy, most especially songs in an unknown language. It works perfectly, I don't understand neither can I speak spanish, but during my wife's cramp I play them. And that's how I keep her brain busy.
● Vibroacoustic therapy
It's the kind of music therapy which involves the use of vibrations directly on the patient. Remember music is sound gotten from vibrations.
How does it work ?
Okay! The patients either lies or sits on a chair in which are embedded speakers which sends out vibrations at a controlled frequency into the body of the patient, studies shows that when this vibrations enters the body brainwaves synchronized with the rhythm leading to a stabilized and relaxed brain free of seizures. I think There is hope of using it in the future to permanently treat disorders involving the brain like Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy and autism.
● Eases Depression
Music has been the right dose whenever am depressed, most preferably classical music . I noticed it during the death of my grandmother.
Studies shows that Listening to music releases dopamines and endorphins which are hormones that makes people feel good, induces happy moods and also relieve pains. It's not really a cure for depression but it has been proven to offer a short term benefit by improving ones mode.
● Improves sleeping hygiene
This is often noticed in infants were the mother uses lullabies and gentle rhymes for the baby to fall asleep. Studies have confirmed this fact also in teenagers
That listening to soothing music before going to bed increases and enhances their sleep duration.
This benefit cuts across all ages.. studies have shown that music influences sleep by the regulation of hormones including the stress hormone called cortisol. Since high level of cortisol results in stress, this could increase alertness leading to poor sleep. With the help of music, another hormone called dopamine is released which eases off the tension created by cortisol hormone thereby leading to a peaceful and long sleep.
Another way music enhances sleep is by calming the autonomic nervous system which is the system in control of the unconsciousness processes of the body.
Let's assume we are staying close to a noisy area, such areas could deprive us if not all but some of our sleeping time. Music helps to curb such events thereby reducing the rate of you having sleep disorders like Insomnia which is very common.
So when next you can't fall asleep, depressed, in pains or you just can't focus, I will recommend you listen to some good music.
Thanks for taking out time to read this, you contributions and questions are highly welcomed.
