Music That Heals.

Music is one of the few pleasures in our lives in that not only does it lift our spirits and ignite our souls but it is also one of the few activities that nvolves using the WHOLE entire brain. In addition to extreme transcending, it is the great medium that is intrinsic to all cultures, and can have surprising benefits not only for learning language, improving memory and focusing attention, but also for physical coordination and development as well.
Of course, music can be distracting if too loud or obnoxious, lest it competes for our attention with the current focus at hand.

Music has beneficial effects:

Effective therapy for pain.

It has been proven that music does has positive effects on pain management, reducing both the onset and distress of both chronic pain and postoperative pain.
Listening to music can reduce chronic pain from a range of painful conditions including osteoarthritis, disc problems and rheumatoid arthritis; up to 21%. Depression by up to 25%, in a study by UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Music therapy is increasing in hospitals to reduce the use of toxic medications during childbirth, to decrease postoperative pain and complement the use of anesthesia during surgery.

Here are a few factors on how music positively affects perceived pain:
1. Music serves as a distractor.
2. Music may give the patient a sense of control.
3. Music causes the body to release endorphins to counteract pain.
4. Slow music relaxes person by slowing their breathing and heartbeat.

Music reduces blood pressure.

By playing recordings of relaxing music every morning and evening, those with high blood pressure can condition themselves to lower their blood pressure - and keep it under control. According to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension conference in New Orleans, listening to just 30 minutes of soothing types of music; soul, classical, or new age, that satisfying daily dose of music medicine significantly reduces high blood pressure.

Music is good for your heart.

Research shows that it is often tempo, rather than style. Italian and British researchers recruited young men and women, half of whom were trained musicians. With headphones on, the participants listened to six styles of music, including rap and classical pieces, with random two-minute pauses. As they continue listening, the researchers monitored their breathing, heart rates and blood pressure. The participants had faster heart and breathing rates when they listened to snappy, lively music. When the music material was calmed down a bit, so did their heart and breathing rates. Some results were surprising. During the musical pauses, heart and breathing rates normalized or reached more optimal levels. Whether or not a person liked the style of music made no difference whatsoever. The tempo of the music had the greatest effect on relaxation.

Music speeds Post-Stroke Recovery.

A daily concoction of one's favorite pop melodies, classical music or jazz can speed recovery from debilitating strokes, according to the latest research. When stroke patients in Finland listened to music for a couple of hours each day, verbal memory and attention span improved significantly compared to patients who received no musical stimulation, or who listened only to stories read out loud, the study reports.

Music ruduces chronic headaches & migraine remedy.

Music can help migraine and chronic headache sufferers reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of the headaches.

Music boosts the immune function.

Scientists explain that a particular type of music can create a positive and profound emotional experience, which leads to secretion of immune-boosting hormones. This helps contribute to a reduction in the factors responsible for illness. Listening to music or singing can also decrease levels of stress-related hormone cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol can lead to a decreased immune response.

Music even makes you smarter.

Music enhances intelligence, learning and IQ.

The idea that music makes you smarter received considerable attention from scientists and the media. Recent research has confirmed that istening to music or playing an instrument can actually accelerate learning and increase retention.

Music enhances brain function, reading and literacy skills, spatial-temporal reasoning and mathematical abilities as well. Even children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder benefit in mathematics tests from music therapy beforehand.

Emotional intelligence.

Earlier it has been thought that listening to only classical music, enhances performance on cognitive tests. Recent studies has proven that listening to any personal preference or type of music, has definitive positive effects on cognition.

Music improves memory performance.

Music activates the left and right hemospheres of the brain. The simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention of information. The information being studied activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain. Also, activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, cause the brain to be more capable of processing information.
Researchers have shown that certain types of music are a great "keys" for recalling memories. Information learned while listening to a particular song can often be recalled simply by "playing" the songs mentally.
Musical training has even better effect than just listening to classical music. There is clear evidence that children who take music lessons develop a better memory compared with children without musical training.

Music improves concentration and attention.

Music improves physical and athletic performance.

Choosing music that motivates you will make it easier to start moving, walking, dancing, or any other type of exercise that you enjoy.

The results of music's facilitation of exercise performance include: Reduction in the feeling of fatigue, increase in levels of psychological arousa, physiological relaxation response and improvement in motor coordination.

Music improves body movement and coordination

Music reduces muscle tension and improves body movement and coordination. Music may play an important role in developing, maintaining and restoring physical functioning in the rehabilitation of persons with movement disorders.

Music helps to work more productively.

Listening to upbeat music can be a great way to find some extra energy. Music can effectively eliminate exercise-induced fatigue and fatigue symptoms caused by monotonous work.
Keep in mind that listening to too much pop and hard rock music can make you more jittery than energized. Vary what you listen to and find out what type of music is most beneficial for you. You could try classical music one day, pop the next day and jazz the third.
Music improves productivity. Did you know you can perform better at your work with music? Whilst there may be many reasons for wishing to listen to music in the workplace, it really improves your productivity.
According to a report in the journal Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology, a person's ability to recognize visual images, including letters and numbers, is faster when either rock or classical music is playing in the background.

Music calms, relaxes and helps to sleep.

Relaxing classical music is safe, cheap and easy way to beat insomnia1. Many people who suffer from insomnia find that Bach music helps them. Researchers have shown that just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful night.
Relaxing music reduces sympathetic nervous system activity, decreases anxiety, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and may have positive effects on sleep via muscle relaxation and distraction from thoughts.

Music reduces stress and aids relaxation.

Aids in stress relief activities. Music can help you get "into the zone" when practicing yoga, self hypnosis or guided imagery, can help you feel energized when exercising and recover after exercising, help dissolve the stress when you're soaking in the tub.
Reduces negative emotions. Music, especially upbeat tunes, can take your mind off what stresses you, and help you feel more optimistic and positive. This helps release stress and can even help you keep from getting as stressed over life's little frustrations in the future. Researchers discovered4 that music can decrease the amount of the cortisol, a stress-related hormone produced by the body in response to stress.

Music improves mood and decreases depression.

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