The Healing Power of Music

The latest scientific research tells us that music does just that - healing our bodies and minds. Perhaps it is obvious that music can uplift and heal us emotionally in several ways. New research demonstrates that music therapy can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain and other mental stressors. It can also help people recovering from emotional trauma. Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) is also being treated with music. Music therapy is a burgeoning field with many applications. For example, music can actually help to heal an injured brain! Music therapy research is reaching into many other aspects of medical care as well. The Music-Heals Project in the United States is, “researching and composing specific rhythms, tempos and key signatures that will resynchronize the out-of-sync brainwaves of children with autism.” The organization is also studying how music may improve a “Parkinson’s patient’s ability to walk, and researching the type of music necessary to assist an Alzheimer’s patient with memory and recall.” The ultimate goal of the Music-Heals Project is to use music as a medical therapy for patients with these conditions.