Music Rx
“Music can heal the wounds which medicine cannot touch.” ~ Debeasish Mridha
Just as laughter is good for your health, music too has positive effects on your well-being that are supported by science. It’s good for your brain, your body, and your state of mind. And it all begins when we are just babes.
Lullabies are universal and date back several thousand years. Mothers through the ages from across the world have been singing lullabies to calm children and ease them to sleep. Studies have found that while the words and themes of lullabies may vary, the same tones and shared patterns of rhythms are used. And babies respond. Research shows that infants remained calm twice as long when listening to a children’s song (even an unfamiliar one) than they do when the same words are merely spoken. Live singing was also found to be more effective than recorded song. Lullabies aren’t just beneficial to the child either; they also have a soothing effect on the adults doing the singing and are helpful in forging stronger bonds between caregiver and child.
Maybe it’s this early interaction that causes music to stimulate such widespread regions of both sides of our brains. Music engages not just the auditory areas of our brain, but areas that deal with motor and limbic (relating to emotions) function too. Ample research over the years has demonstrated that music enhances reading, literacy, math, and other reasoning skills. There’s also evidence that listening to relaxing music improves concentration for all ages. Listening to instrumental music has been shown to improve memory performance and facilitate the recall of information. And learning music is an even more powerful tool for the brain than just listening. Children who are taught music develop a better memory than children who do not receive musical training.
Music also heals the body. It can help reduce the sensation of pain and distress associated with chronic pain. Hospitals are increasingly using music therapy to complement the use of anesthesia during surgery, to reduce the need for medication during childbirth, and to decrease post-operative pain. Music has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, boost immunity, decrease levels of stress-related cortisol, promote post-stroke recovery, normalize heart rate, and even (perhaps surprisingly) help people suffering from chronic headaches, migraine, and early stages of tinnitus. A 2014 study has revealed that there’s even a particular sonata by Mozart that has an anti-seizure effect on children with epilepsy. Powerful medicine indeed!
Just as music soothes the savage beast, it can soothe the soul as well. Bright, cheerful, upbeat music is known to chase away the blues, reduce negative emotions, and calm anxiety. Slow, quiet classical music reduces stress for all ages and often induces sleep. Research has shown that listening to just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bed can make for a more restful night and help with insomnia. Bach, especially, has been found to aid in sleep, muscle relaxation, and slowing heart and respiratory rates. On the other hand, bouncy pop, hard-hitting rock, and upbeat dance tracks, can energize you and help you fight fatigue, making it a helpful pick-me-up for long runs and workout sessions or during monotonous drives or work shifts. And speaking of work, studies have also established that music in the workplace improves productivity.
So, cue up your favorite playlists, or dust off some vintage vinyl, and let the music play on. It’s good for your body, mind, and soul.
