Music as Therapy

 

                                Music as Therapy 

       In this advancing age of science, the world is forwarding towards non pharmacological aspects for healing various ailments. Even without the tag of therapy,    even with mere listening the power of melodious music vocal or instrumental , to bring about joy, and deeper state of relaxation to mind is well known and based on experience.From time immemorial, humming sonorous sounds while doing works was a daily routine inbuilt in people, whether while carrying big loads or doing repetitive works as it takes off monotony and takes off the burdensome feelings, bringing about relaxation to the mind and body. They might not have musically trained. But humming rhythmic sounds is inborn trait in human beings.

Recent studies have suggested that the music whether vocal or musical can be particularly effective in neuro degenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism. The clinical studies have shown that  music therapy is helpful for people with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, stress and even cancer. Suggestions are going on to introduce listening to music for patients in hospitals.

Music has been an ancient part of Ayurveda. Music in India dates back thousands of years to the Gandharva veda ( Gandharvas are celestial group devoted music and dance ). Great composers of  Indian ( Carnatic ) classical music have attempted music therapy for many years. Thyagaraja , a Carnatic music maestro, composer and vocalist,  whose songs are saturated with yearnings for Lord Rama , brought a drowned devotee to life with his composition. Mutthuswamy Dikshitar, another one of the famous Trinity of Carnatic music graced by Lord Subramanya, he himself an ardent devotee of the Goddess , through his song brought rain to drought stricken place in South India. It is said that the great Hindustani classical musician Tansen could create rains and fire just through his music. Pythagorus, Aristotle, and Plato were among the first philosophers to consider the healing and transformative power of music. In 1877, through phonograph, doctors were able to use music as sedative or distraction in the operating room.

Ancient healing  method like Ayurveda suggests music therapy as one of the healing methods. Music therapy advocates that different sounds ( Nada ) creates some vibrations in space which lead to many different healing effects in the human body. The bodily humours ( doshas ) Vata, Pitta and Kapha and mental qualities ( Gunas ) Rajas and Tamas (  Rajas denotes passion, action, and restlessness, Tamas signifies inertia, darkness, and ignorance) are balanced by music therapy by primarily acting on the mental qualities.