The Healing Effects of Music
I have always thought that music has the potential to have a therapuetic effect on people. In my own life, if I am really upset music provides an escape from reality for a few brief moments in time. It can also have a calming effect. I am never sure if it the music itself that gives some type of solace or if it is simply has a diversional effect. During this course was the first time in my life that I have been introduced to any research supporting real physiological benefits from listening to music. This research came from a man by the name of Masaru Emoto. Mr. Emoto's research stresses the importance of the affects of water in the human body. The human body is made up of over 70% water. The composition of these water crystals is affected by the environment in which it resides (Emoto, 2004) .
In Mr. Emoto's research, he investigates the difference in water crystals in environments with harsh music as compared peaceful music. He captures the results in photos that may be viewed in his book The Hidden Messages in Water. These pictures present with beatuiful water crystals from the water that was exposed to upbeat or peaceful music. Fierce looking crystals appear when exposed to more negative or harsh music. Mr. Emoto suggests that the body is more healthy when surrounded by this peaceful kind of music (Emoto, 2004). If this research represents truth, these findings would help explain the therapeutic effect of listening to music.
I am not sure that I fully believe Mr. Emoto's findings. I am very interested in the subject and would like to read further research articles supporting the importance of noise environment on the water crystals in our bodies. I would also like to learn more of the pratical implications and benefits this has for the human body. I do agree with Mr. Emoto that music can be a powerful relaxation technique. Whether his findings are accurate or not, I think music may be implemented in occupational therapy practice as a stress relieving technique. This could be utilized during therapy or could be simply recommended to the patient as a technique to try in his/her own time. I also think that it is important to surround the patient with positive and encouraging words to promote a more hopeful attitude in therapy.
There are many articles about sound health in general and the benefits to the human body. In Mason (2006) interviews with two individuals that believe strongly in sound health and healing are presented. Jonathon Goldman, a researcher in the area of sound health, shares in his interview that tuning forks may be used by doctors to "synchronize the hemispheres of the brain...they can also help to rebalance the nervous system" (Mason, 2006, p. 82). The other interviewee, Suzanne Jonas, is a psychothrapist. She has developed a CD to promote sound health in patients, which is called Deep Relaxation and Self-Healing. Accoreding to Jones this CD "helps slow down the listener's brainwaves and the person becomes more calm, centered, and peaceful" (Mason, 2006, p. 85). These two interviewees offer interesting insight into the world of sound health.
References
Emoto, M. (2004). The hidden messages in water. Hilsboro: Beyond Words Publishing, Inc.
Image retrieved from: http://www.hado.com.au/crystals.htm
Mason, R. (2006). The sound of healing: Interviews with Jonathon Goldman, B.Sc., M.A., and Suzanne Jonas, B.A., M. A., Ed.D. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 12, 81-85.
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