Music and art are found in every single human culture. For millennia, it has been recognized for their therapeutic value and healing qualities. The ancient Greek and Egyptian physicians believed that music and imagery could heal both the body and the soul.
The act of creative engagement brings us into the moment. It puts us in touch with who we are and connects us with others. It helps us break through our mental/emotional barriers and moves us forward.
With the advent of modern medicine music and art were disregarded as viable therapeutic tools.
Recently, however, there has been a growing interest by the medical research community to understand how the use of music and art affects patients and physicians:
The American Psychological Association is emphasizing how music can improve health: "Researchers are exploring how music therapy can improve health outcomes among a variety of patient populations, including premature infants and people with depression and Parkinson's disease..." (see: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx)
Likewise, on Psychology Today an article written by Catherine Ulbricht Pharm. D. emphasizes how "Music has been studied as an integrative therapy for many conditions." (see: (see: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/natural-standard/201306/music-therapy-health-and-wellness).
We can read on Isthmus: "..The combination of music and neuroscience is a hot topic these days, and there is an exciting convergence happening between neuroscientists and musicians. Neuroscientists explain now how music affects the brain.." (see: https://isthmus.com/music/scientists-study-musics-effects-on-our-brains-and-bodies/).
The interest in the effects of music on the brain has led to a new branch of research called neuromusicology which explores how the nervous system reacts to music and how music has a therapeutic effect on the mind and body. (see: https://www.accessscience.com/content/neuromusicology 449970).
And the evidence is in - music activates every known part of the brain.
The health benefits of creative self-expression are abundant. Whether challenged with a physical illness, in need of stabilizing your emotions or looking for an outlet to enhance your well-being, expressing your creative imagination through art and music can be a viable and transforming healing process leading to balance and vitality.
Dr Jockers
MUSIC - Activates the visual cortex - Improve verbal 19 & mathematical abilities - Increase levels of melatonin, serotonin endorphins and dopamine - Improves memory performance, concentration and attention - Enhances.
See this interesting article about the way music improves the brain, by Dr. Jockers: https://driockers.com/3-ways-music-improves-brain-function/
Listening to harmonic sounds and music also:
Maurits Cornelis Escher - 1948
DRAWING - Improves hand-eye coordination - Memories and experiences become stronger, more vivid, & easier to access - Enhances creative problem solving & intuition Increase production of serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and norepinephrine - Produces an overall state of alertness
Expression through drawing and painting also:
Every cell in our body radiates a vibration or frequency. When our internal environment resonates at its optimal frequency we maintain a balanced system. Recently a team of researchers at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) have measured the frequency at which red blood cells vibrate and have shown that those frequencies reflect the health of the cells.
In the 1960's, a Swiss medical physician, Dr. Hans Jenny, realized the importance of vibration and sound and initiated : study on a wave phenomena called cymatics. When sand, fluid or powder were placed on a metal plate then vibrated with a special frequency generator, intricate patterns that were unique to each individual vibration occurred. The experiment showed that sound can alter form at different frequencies and that sound actually creates and maintains form. He called these inherent patterns of vibration the "harmonic principle".
Double Hexagon Cymatic Image, made with CymaScope, an advanced cymatic research instrument. Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Phantasy Quartet" made visible on the CymaScope Source: http://www.cymascope.com
The work of Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru Emoto demonstrates the potent effects of sound on water crystals. He played classical music and traditional folk music through speakers next to water samples. He then froze and photographed the crystalline structures after each musical selection. What he observed was that each water sample formed unique and beautifully geometric crystals. In contrast, the water crystal's basic hexagonal structure broke into pieces when heavy metal music was played. Since our bodies are made up of 70 percent water, imagine how the sounds and vibrations of our external environment could affect our internal cellular function and in time our state of health.
Imagine - John Lennon
Source: https://www.masaru-emoto.net/en/crystal/
Anyone who has listened to music knows the incredible power it can have over both thoughts and emotions.
See this interesting article about the way music improves the brain, by Dr. Jockers: https://driockers.com/3-ways-music-improves-brain-function/
Our knowledge of the brain's involvement when listening to music was not realized until the early 1990s with the emergence of functional brain imaging. Music is processed in many different areas of our brain.