Is music more healing than drugs?

Science is now researching the healing aspects of music and coming up with startling findings. It turns out that yes, music heals. Research shows: better than drugs in many cases.

“For adult patients, half an hour of music produces the same effect as ten milligrams of Valium.” Raymond Barr, head of the Coronary Care Unit at Baltimore’s St. Agnes Hospital states.

Pain therapy- Overall, music does have positive effects on pain management. Music can help reduce the feelings and stress that happen because of chronic pain and postoperative pain. Listening to music can also reduce chronic pain from many painful conditions, including osteoarthritis, disc problems, and rheumatoid arthritis, by up to 21% and depression by up to 25%, according to a paper in a UK-based Journal of Advanced Nursing. 
Music therapy is increasingly used in hospitals to reduce the use of medication during childbirth, to reduce postoperative pain and help with the use of anesthesia during surgery.

Epilepsy and Music
Thanks to the many studies done on epilepsy and music, we now know that music affects the EEG (recording of electrical activity along the scalp) in the entire cortex, and not, as once thought, in just a part of the brain. Music played at a moderate or moderately fast tempo, without too many sudden changes in dynamics (loud and soft), helps to normalize the EEG.

Reducing blood pressure- By playing recordings of relaxing music every morning and evening, people with high blood pressure can train themselves to lower their blood pressure, and even keep it low. According to research that was reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans, listening to only 30 minutes of classical, Celtic or raga music every day could really reduce high blood pressure.

Chronic headaches & migraine remedy- Music can help migraine and chronic headache sufferers lessen the intensity, frequency, and duration of the headaches.



Music boosts immunity- Music can boost the immune system function. Scientists say that a particular type of music can make a positive emotional experience, which leads to an increase of immune-boosting hormones. This helps add to a decrease in the factors responsible for the illness. Listening to music or singing can also decrease levels of the stress-related hormone called cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol can lead to a decreased immune system. 




Science tells the story today that our ancestors knew too well. The medicine man and shamans used music in their healing rituals. All major religious utilize music as an integral part of their ceremony. ‘From ancient times, music is something that has put people in touch with their innermost feelings. Different kinds of music work upon different emotions of an individual and releases the various incomplete emotions
leading towards a total healing of body and mind’
Bhakthi Sankeertan: ‘Healing through Music’ (The Holistic Health Dictionary on Music Therapy)

Many scientists now research the music algorithms and how they are aligned with the mathematics and physics of our universe. Louis Armstrong once quoted his father’s writings, “Today’s science is leading us to wonder if sound and music are not the echo of everything.”