|
|
|
|
By Caiocimara B. McPhee, RN, BSN The use of music therapy dates back to the ancient Greeks. In Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of music and his son, Aesculapius, the god of healing and medicine. The idea that music had the power to assist in healing the body and soul was firmly believed by the Greeks. Most societies and cultures today continue to use music in rites of passages, ceremonies, celebrations, rituals, etc. Music expresses itself not by the use of verbal language so much, but by some higher power – Sound. Music therapy is now being incorporated into the health care setting. MaCaffrey and Good (2000) researched the utilization of listening to music while recovering from surgery. The research study used actual experience as a basis for their study. Eight participants listened to music during postoperative recovery and three themes emerged from the interview data (Table 1). Participants in this study were given a choice of twenty musical tapes to play at any time they wished. Musical preference is important when using music for healing. To provide variation a range from light classical, light jazz to country western were among the choices. Participants were allowed to change their choices based on their moods. Several quotations made by the participants gave depth to the themes that emerged from the study (Table 1). Perhaps there is a link between comfort and healing where music can bridge the gap. The author Maureen McCarthy Draper (2001) stated that, "the heightened sensitivity music can create, beyond what we ordinarily experience is itself healing, stimulating our deep reserves of energy." Table 1
Music is and always will be a part of nature. It resonates with who we are at our core. We are music. The heart has a beat and rhythm, lungs resonate with sound, and our energy field has a vibration that is sensed by all. The human body is a system of vibrating atomic particles acting as a vibratory transformer that gives off and takes in sound. There is no separation, by the way, between sound and our other senses. Our other senses, sight, smell, and touch allow us to perceive an even wider range of vibrations than those sensed by hearing. Most people are not even aware of how sensitive we are to sounds (Guzzetta, 1995). An amazing piece of information, which validates our earthly connection, has to do with vibration. The earth vibrates at a fundamental frequency of eight cycles per second. Our entire body vibrates at an inaudible fundamental frequency of approximately eight cycles per second when it is in a relaxed state. Therefore, there is a sympathetic resonance between the electrically charged layers of the Earth’s atmosphere and the human body. Thus, the concept of being in harmony with oneself and the Earth occurs on a very fundamental level. Maureen McCarthy Draper (2001) has written a book called The Nature of Music: Beauty, Sound, and Healing. In her book she wrote, "when we like what we hear, we open our pores to take in more – just as we close them against what seems ugly or offensive. Is that why we remember so vividly the hours or days spent in places we love, perhaps in the mountains or by the sea, where all our senses were awake"? She suggests that we use vocal therapy in the car and shower. The therapeutic effect of singing, groaning, shouting and other vocal ablutions can help us get things off our chest, or ease regrets about things said or done, or not said or done. You begin by breathing to fully aerate your lungs, cells, and relax any tense muscles. Humming, she encourages, is yet another way to begin one’s day or morning meditation. This exercise brings forth awareness to hearing ones voice, feeling its vibration, and clears the mind as it increases a sense of presence. She gave the example of the mantra, ‘Om’, which is considered a sacred sound by Hindus and Buddhists. Mantras are used in meditation and chanting to focus the mind, clear and calm the mind before meditation or prayer, and as powerful meditations themselves. We all struggle with fear of change. Change can bring about a fear that life as it was is no longer and will there ever be the feeling of happiness and contentment again? What if music can help us cope better with changes in our lives? "Beethoven believed his music could not only transform those who heard it but the process of creation would in turn change him as well", said Draper. Perhaps music can help us cope with our fear of change and we may become seekers of joy, beauty, and truth. Being able to bring joy, truth and beauty into our lives helps us to value and preserve life. This in turn creates an external world that mirrors our internal being. The process of experiencing loss, grief and sorrow such as undergoing surgery, losing a loved one, growing old, or being diagnosed with an illness, are things we all must face or experience. When the time comes to face emotions music can be the healing catalyst. Learning from our feelings, finding meaning in our lessons, coming to grips with our pain, accepting our loss and uncovering compassion for self and others along the way is part of the human experience. Music that speaks to the heart can help to release pain. An anecdote included in the results of the research by MaCaffrey and Good (2000) describes such an experience. One of the participant’s daughters would visit her mother daily during her hospitalization. Her mother’s prognosis was poor after surgery. The patient’s daughter told the researcher she was pleased her mother was included in the study. She was worried about how she and her mother would communicate with the distressing news of a poor prognosis hanging between them. She often would listen to the music with her mother during her visits. She confided to the investigator that the music was a means of communication between the two of them in a tender and deep way without words. During unstable times I have often instinctively reached for music, or a song will spontaneously pop into my mind. I sometimes do not know all the words, but hum along. Draper stated that, "music can transport us to a timeless space, where healing can occur in its own mysterious way". The more one stays connected to the energies in music the more receptive you will be to healing energies". The healing benefits of music speak loud and clear. It is innately part of us as well as the Earth. The connection is undeniable. Music can aid in relieving pain, provide comfort and relaxation, stimulate energy, bridge gaps in communication, and facilitate emotional transition. Let us face it, it can help you feel better. Whatever your musical preference – effects can occur at a deeper level. "The effect of finding in music an outer expression of an inner state is like that of finding an empathic friend to whom you can confide", said Draper. For more information on music therapy feel free to visit any of the following web sites: http://www.relaxation-therapy.co.uk/ http://ia.essortment.com/whatismusic_rerk.htm http://pa.essortment.com/whatismusicth_rezp.htm http://www.allsands.com/Music/musictherapyhe_yh_gn.htm REFERENCES Draper, M. M. (2001). The nature of music: Beauty, sound, and healing. New York: Riverhead Books. Guzzetta, C. E. (1995). Music therapy: Hearing the melody of the soul. In Dossey, B. M., Keegan, L., Guzzetta, C. E. & Kolkmeier, L. G. Holistic nursing: A handbook for practice (2nd ed., pp. 669-698). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers. McCaffrey, R. G. & Good, M. (2000). The lived experience of listening to music while recovering from surgery. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 18 (4), 378-390. |
A
new field, Psychacoustics, is studying the effects of sound on consciousness.
When you feel a lack of energy and are in need of a boost, do you reach for
music? Most people today reach for caffeine. It provides a quick boost as well
as an additional jolt to the nervous system. The intake of caffeinated beverages
can also disturb sleep. Music, on the other hand, can stimulate energy or it can
be used for relaxation without side effects. Music can also trigger memories
from the past. For example, my first music memory was of my mother crying over a
song she liked very much. As a child, I thought, "If she likes it so much
why is she crying"? I did not understand the intricate connection that
music has on our physical body and emotions then. Now I understand that music
affects our body, emotions, and feelings through the vibrations of pitch and
rhythm that are perceived through the ear, skin, and bone and are thought to
decrease heart and respiratory rates, regulate the circadian rhythm, and evoke
memories in the limbic system. Our emotional reactions to music may occur
because our brain’s limbic system is the seat of emotions, feelings, and
sensations. Music can also release endorphins, the body’s natural feel good
hormones that act as natural opiates.