Music has a noticeable effect on the mood and feelings of individuals or groups. However, many do not know that scientific evidence shows that music can have a measurable, therapeutic, effect on human beings. It does not only provide help for people who have mental or emotional trauma, but it can help the physically ill or injured as well.

Music therapy is more than just playing music for a patient. It involves a specific plan of action and evidence-based strategies to achieve a particular goal. Music therapists work with,

• Patients who are trying to regain their speech
• Individuals who suffer from dementia
• Children with autism
• Premature babies
• People who have Parkinson’s disease

A musical therapist’s goal is to lead an individual into sharing their feelings through writing, performing, or listening, to music. This can help them to reduce their stress or anxiety, which can have positive, physical, results for the patient.

Music therapy can also decrease vomiting and nausea in chemotherapy patients. Additionally, this study from Harvard University suggests that music therapy can aid the recovery of cardiac patients. This study suggests that music therapy can reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

Studies indicate that music therapy has been found to be particularly effective in treating;

• Depression-Music therapy can reduce stress and contribute to a feeling of well-being.
• Stress-Soothing music has been observed to reduce heart rate and pain in some patients.
• Autism-Can help improves communication skills.
• Cancer-Reduces nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy.

This study from the University of Pavia (Italy) is another addition to the growing medical research in support of music therapy for a variety of conditions. It supports previous observations that music can have a positive effect on a neurological patient’s well-being.

Music therapy is an accepted form of treatment for multiple disorders and the list seems to grow each year. Creating, performing, or listening to music has been observed to improve a patient’s emotional mindset and decrease anxiety, which contributes to their overall health. Researchers state that it can be effective in the treatment of various diseases and they are constantly trying to test its limits.