The Healing Power of Music

Using music for healing and relaxation is nothing new and in the stressful times that we now live music can be a great tool to bring us joy, energy, comfort and calm.

The modern world that we live in constantly bombards us with situations that cause stress. A certain amount is good for us, but too much - especially if it is day in and day out - can cause us both emotional and physical problems. However there is a really simple, cheap and very effective answer - music. Music is a great healer. It is so powerful that relaxation music is used by hospitals across the world to reduce anxiety in patients who are about to go into surgery. It has the power to soothe and relax you, to change your whole mood, and increase your energy levels.

As Al Bumanis spokesman for the American Music Therapy Association says "Often, music therapy is more cost-effective than administering medication, especially for patients with anxiety, sleep disturbances or pain." Listening to music with a tempo of 60 bpm has the most health benefits. This is the optimum rate for a resting heart, and you will find that when you listen to music of this tempo your breathing will slow in time to the music. This in turn will slow your heart beat, promoting a calm, meditative state.