Music Therapy: Music can heal

From treating  patients affected by stroke  to helping those in mental trauma, music therapy is used as an alternative preventive medicine. It is an allied health profession and one of the expressive therapies. It consists of an interpersonal process in which a music therapist uses  mental, physical, social, aesthetic and spiritual facets of music to maintain the health of the patients.

The origin therapy can be traced  back to 400 B.C. when the father of Greek medicine, Hippocrates used music to treat mental patients. It has also been used in other countries and cultures. ‘Music Therapy’, as we know it today, was used by musicians of the British armed forces during and after the Second World War to soothe the nerves of injured soldiers. Children with concentration, behavioural and learning problems have been treated with this therapy with an amazing  rate of success . 

Adolescents with clinical depression and bipolar disorders have also been treated using this technique. It is a great alternative to medicines  having  side effects. But, the therapy cannot be used successfully in all cases. Sometimes, the conventional method of treatment may be the only alternative. However, the fact remains that music therapy is one of the safest ways of treating ailments.

Music can help stroke patients to recover from surgery. It can help them to relax and de-stress. In a research conducted on patients in USA and some European countries, it was found out that music  can improve the motor skills of patients. The pattern of music is altered according to the need of the patient and his/her degree of disability. Some, on whom, the therapy was used were able to walk sooner than others.

Some leading hospitals in India like Escorts, Army Hospital (Research and Referral) and others use music therapy while treating patients. But, the number of such hospitals is less. Most Private and Government hospitals are not using it due to lack of infrastructure and other factors. Music has the ability to accelerate the healing process. It can be used to the advantage of the patients in India where a large number of people suffer from anxiety, depression and others.