Music Therapy For Immunity - Does It Work?
Key highlights or summary
- Music therapy is a science-based approach that serves as both an immune booster and a stress-buster.
- Music significantly reduces stress, which directly impacts the immune system. It lowers cortisol levels and improves physiological responses like heart rate and blood pressure.
- Music therapy has been found to increase the levels of immune cells like natural killer cells and T-cells, and the production of antibodies, especially Immunoglobulin A (IgA).
- Music therapy includes both active techniques (like singing, playing instruments) and receptive techniques (like listening to music, dancing).
- Music therapy helps in conditions like depression, anxiety, insomnia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.
- It also improves speech and communication post-stroke, enhances motor skills, aids in emotional identification for autistic individuals, and offers stress relief.
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- Fancourt D, Ockelford A, Belai A. The psychoneuroimmunological effects of music: A systematic review and a new model. Brain Behav Immun. 2014; 36:15-26.
- American Music Therapy Association; Definition and Quotes about Music Therapy. 2015; AMTA
- Thompson, W. F., & Schlaug, G.The healing power of music. 2015; Scientific American Mind, 26(2), 32-41.
- Gooding, L. F. Finding your inner voice through song: Reaching adolescents with techniques common to poetry therapy and music therapy. 2008; Journal of Poetry Therapy, 21(4), 219-229.
- Morey J, Boggero I, Scott A, Segerstrom S. Current directions in stress and human immune function. 2015; Curr Opin Psychol; 1;5: 13-17.
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