Music Therapy Speeds Recovery

borrowed from Bottom Line Personal

by Amy Zabin, DA of The Music Therapy Center, Greenwich, CT

As far back as World War II, music was used in Veterans Administration hospitals to treat soldiers suffering from shell shock. More recently, studies have shown that music therapy - which can include listening and/or making music - reduces pain and other symptoms in cancer patients.

Example: A study published in Cancer looked at 69 patients who were undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Those given music therapy reported having 37% fewer mood disturbances and 28% less anxiety than those who didn't get the treatments.

Benefits

What music therapy does:

Eases anxiety. The brain and body synchronize their internal rhythms to external stimuli. Example: A cancer patient who is suffering from anxiety might have a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing. Music with a slow, soothing tempo slows down both of these - and even slows brain waves, which reduces anxiety as well as pain sensations.
Blocks negative sensations. According to the gateway theory of pain management, patients can't focus on opposing sensations simultaneously. Listening to or making music can reduce side effects from chemotherapy and other treatments. Example: Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center studied 42 patients undergoing bone marrow transplants. Those who received twice-weekly music therapy sessions reported significantly less pain and nausea than patients who were given only the standard care. Patients who receive music therapy often require lower doses of painkillers.
Reduces nausea. The drug cocktails used in modern chemotherapy are far less toxic than they used to be, but nausea still among the main side effects. Much of this is due to anxiety about the disease and treatment. Patients who undergo music therapy have less stress, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and less nausea.
Helps healing. The University of Rochester study found the patients given music therapy following bone marrow transplants started producing their own white blood cells in 13.5 days, on average, compared with 15.5 days in a control group. Music therapy also shorten the time that patients spend in intensive care units by two to three days.

How To Use It

Music therapists design music sessions for individuals as well as groups. The sessions might include listening to music, making music or analyzing song lyrics. To use music therapeutically:

Set aside 15 to 30 minutes. At home or in the hospital, close the door, turn off the phone and TV, and dim the lights. Get as comfortable as possible, and close your eyes.
Match the music to your mood. A patient feeling agitated may respond readily to music that matches that agitated mood at first ... then the music therapist can gradually ease the patient into a more relaxed mental state. Soothing music with a slow tempo can slow the heart and make you feel more relaxed. If you would rather feel energized, uplifted or distracted, you might want to choose something lively.
Combine music with imagery. imagine yourself at a location that feels both safe and free, and try to use all your senses. Example: Picture yourself on a mountain - what the ground