Music Therapy for Alternative Healing

Most people like to listen to music to relax or simply pass the time. They might not know it, but they are already receiving a form of therapy just from listening to the songs they like. The more scientific approach to using songs in order to promote health and wellness is called music therapy. This is an accepted branch of health care support and research in the United States.

There are several conditions that can be eased with music therapy. When used in combination with traditional medicinal methods, alternative healing through music can promote peace and stability in a person suffering from a particular disorder. The positive feelings caused by the process gets a sick person in the proper mindset to beat his or her illness. The following are some examples of conditions eased through music therapy.

Stress and Anxiety

While people encounter stress and anxiety everyday, there are some who do not know how to effectively deal with it. This causes their minds and their bodies to be in a constant state of turmoil. To calm the physical, mental, and emotional unrest a person might be feeling, he or she can listen to relaxing types of music. Therapists also use other musical activities to allay a person’s stress and anxiety. Some of these include improvisation, songwriting, dancing, among others.

Sleeping Disorders

Stress and anxiety can cause sleeping disorders, for which music therapy is also a form of alternative healing medicine. Those who are unable to sleep at night can be lulled into a deep slumber through calm, soothing music or relaxing nature sounds. An adequate amount of sleep is important for a person’s physical and mental well-being. Using music therapy helps ensure that a person is getting enough sleep for the latter to be true.

Pain

Physical pain is also eased through music therapy. This alternative healing method distracts a patient from the hurt he or she might be currently experiencing. Music therapy has been found to alleviate the suffering experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Likewise, accident victims in rehabilitation benefit from listening to music as well.

Stroke

There is also evidence that music therapy helps speed up a stroke victim’s recovery. By inducing positive thoughts and feelings through this alternative healing process, the patient is put in the right mood and mindset during his or her traditional therapy routines.