Believing in the mind/body connection and in music for relaxation and health doesn't have to be a huge leap of faith. Careful research is necessary.
by Daniel Kobialka, D.M.A.
Quite frankly, like many things, both sides of the issue can be true. For example, Dr. Masaru Emoto exposes water in glasses to different words, pictures, or music, and then freezes and examines the aesthetics of the resulting crystals with microscopic photography. His description of the purification of a polluted lake (1) with the power of intention of the spoken word is fascinating reading, and his claim that playing Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel" caused crystals to split in half is both amusing and provocative.
Unfortunately, Dr. Masaru Emoto taints his interesting observations by presenting himself as a scientific authority and by selling questionable products. His "Indigo Water" available on his website is not substantiated by any scientific foundation. This prevents Dr. Emoto’s work from being examined by reputable scientists at any long-standing research institutions, and this is indeed unfortunate.
Dr. Emoto openly explains that he is not a scientist and that he encourages his photographers to take photos of the most beautiful specimens. Notwithstanding, the resulting photographs are lovely and thought-provoking; if backed up by scientific observations, the results could have far-reaching implications for human health and wellbeing, considering the high percentage of water in the human body.
On the other side of the "fact or fiction" coin is the research of Herbert Benson, MD, the Director Emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine(2), who has written that a broad range of bodily functions work more efficiently when the body is in a state of deep relaxation.
Dr. Benson's extensive research confirms that the right kind of music is one of the easiest ways to evoke what he calls “the relaxation response’. His studies have shown that music, but only certain music, can reduce stress, enhance immune system function, slow down and balance brain wave activity, reduce muscle tension, increase endorphin levels and evoke feelings of inner peace.
The "right kind of music" is, amongst other things, free of the melody/refrain form that we have come to expect from popular music; our minds/bodies must be free to relax and just "take it as it comes." So finding the kind of music to achieve desired results is important.
References:
(1) https://www.hado.net/hado/hadoinaction.php
(2) http://www.mbmi.org
Related Relaxation Music articles:
1. Choosing Relaxation Music For Health
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47. Bryan's Lullaby: Music-Assisted Relaxation Imagery For A Child
51. Relaxation Music Artists Can Change Your Life
52. The Relaxing And Rejuvenating Effects Of Classical Music
54. Experiencing True Relaxation With Meditation And Music
58. What Is The Best Relaxing Music During Labor?
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