Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Characteristics of Healing Music: Maximizing the Mind-Body Connection


Music can be used as a valuable stress management and relaxation tool. Relaxation music creates an ambient oasis of peace and tranquility enhancing vital relaxation.




Music is a great accompaniment for holistic therapies and very powerful tool for relieving stress. It also enhances the production of guided meditation or hypnotherapy. Soothing music helps a person calm down, lower the heart rate and by design create additional alpha brainwaves with its special rhythms.



Music with a magical tempo of 60 beats per minute enhance a restful sleep, speed up learning, improve immune response, decrease the need for anesthesia during surgery and has even been known to reduce blood pressure.



The experience of most people and science points out the significance of baroque music in offering relaxation. Studies indicate that baroque music played at 60 beats per minute enables the brain to generate increased alpha brainwaves offering a relaxation effect.



To choose the relaxation music, which works best for you, start by testing the various types of soothing music available. It is likely that what one considers relaxing may be irritating to another. Choosing appropriate calming music is a matter of personal preferences, but though one’s personal preferences go into the equation, some kind of music is more relaxing than other music.



The brain primarily produces brainwaves at 14 to 30 cycles per second (hertz) known as beta waves when in normal consciousness. Brainwaves with frequencies of 8 to 14 cycles per second are alpha waves that are present when one is more relaxed. Around 4 to 8 cycles per second is the theta waves that present a deeper drowsy and meditative state. Finally, when one is asleep, delta waves of fewer than 5 hertz are produced.



Normally, alpha brainwaves stimulate a relaxing state, but meditation encourages a more relaxing consciousness state especially if practiced regularly. For those who have no time or inclinations to meditate, music embedded with particular beats works in a similar way. This is the source for brainwave entertainment technology, which alter one’s brainwaves giving a rapid relaxation response. Relaxation music affects the soul. People don’t just merely hear it, they also feel it.



When trying to use relaxation music to calm the body and spirit it is most important to choose music that is relaxing to you. There are various styles and genres of music and the style that is comfortable for one person may be completely different from the style that relaxes another. Trial and error will help to gauge which style is best for your mind.


http://behealthyandrelax.com/2009/12/finding-relaxation-music-that-works-best-for-you/

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas Music and the Mind-Body Connection

  Have you noticed a visceral reaction to certain familiar music?  An emotion that is so deeply felt that within seconds you are moved to tears?  This particular Christmas piece by John Rutter does that to me!  Is it because the first time I heard it, it just struck me as a beautiful, spiritual piece that spoke to me to the tips of my toes and the to the bottom of my heart.  To this day, when I hear this beautiful song, I am again quickly overcome with emotion.  It always surprises me and catches me off guard.

When I ask myself what emotion it is coming up in me, I believe that it would have to be gratitude!  I just feel overcome with gratitude for the world, for love, and for forgiveness.  I hope that you enjoy this too!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

How does the mind respond to familiar music?

This is one of the things I've wondered for decades. When we listen to familiar music our brains "light up" differently from when we listen to unfamiliar music. But what about familiar music played on a very different instrument? Listen to this very unusual version of Bach's familiar Prelude and Fugues in D minor and tell me how it strikes YOU! I'd really love to know!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

How many ways can music be used to improve your life?


One of the things I try to do each day is to write at least one article and one or two blog posts. Educating people about the benefits of music and how to put this music to work for you, is my mission and goal in life.

Recently I've updated one of the articles I wrote several years ago. The article is on my website, which you may have never visited, but I do hope you will!

Here's the link: http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/articles/music_wellness_top_10.html

Sunday, August 09, 2009

How does pain affect the Mind and the Body?

Many people have chronic pain. Understanding the origins of it won't make it go away but this is an excellent article that might give you some new options. Of course music can always be an effective soother and comforter for pain of any kind.

Pain can be described as an annoying sensation that can range from slight, localized aching to agony. This sensation can impair professional, private, and social relationships. Numerous therapies
can be used, such as narcotic and non-narcotic pain medications, guided visualization and diversion techniques, NLP, and hypnotherapy.

Pain can be described as an annoying sensation that can range from slight, localized aching to misery. This sensation includes both physiological and emotional components. This experience often results in a lack of zest and energy. Such persons report feeling exhausted and psychologically miserable. The pain response can impair professional, private, and social ties.

When a person is injured, his or her body discharges hormones that tell the brain that something is wrong. The brain understands this alarm as injury, and advises the person of the injury. The person then responds to this message, and attempts to resolve it. Sometimes, however, the body sends a warning of pain when no injury has occurred. This can occur when the signal has a psychological, rather than a physical, cause.

One method of relieving painful feelings is by using medications. Non-narcotic medicines, such as Tylenol or Aspirin, prevent body tissues from releasing chemicals used to notify the brain of injury. Narcotic drugs, however, signal neurons in the brain and advise them that the issue has been completely resolved. Narcotics, like Demerol and Dilaudid, may often be very addictive and cause dependency in those persons who rely on them for long periods as pain management strategies.

The body also releases chemicals called endorphins. These are Nature’s painkillers, released by the brain's cells to make the body believe that it does not hurt. Athletes, for instance, release endorphins after strenuous exercise; this is where the “runner’s high” sometimes referred to originates. Individuals who enjoy taking part in strenuous sports report a similar endorphin release. Often, sports enthusiasts are able to run or play in spite of pain as a result of the presence of these endorphins in their bodies.

People sometimes experience a reprieve by using hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming approaches. These natural pain relief techniques can allow people to receive relief from many long-term problems, including migraines and other chronic, debilitating headaches or throbbing neck pain. Most people can significantly decrease, or totally end their use of drugs as a result of these strategies.

Traditional hypnotherapy pain relief methods work best for those who respond to post-hypnotic suggestions. A skilled hypnotist helps the individual to go into a very relaxed state. During this time, the client is very aware of the suggestions being offered by the professional.

The hypnotherapist may suggest that the client concentrate on other activities or tasks, and that distraction will diminish any sense of discomfort. Actually, just the use of the word discomfort in the middle of a hypnotic session rather than the use of the word pain can greatly reduce any feeling of pain. The majority of clients have astonishing results, and they can be helped to practice self-hypnosis for pain relief to gain personal control of their situations.

More analytical persons generally require either Erickson-based hypnosis or NLP to overcome their conscious resistance to suggestion.

The hypnosis strategy for pain treatment can also be employed to teach the brain to give off endorphins that can induce a state of light anesthesia, also referred to as analgesia. This state is sometimes used to assist ladies to give birth without using drugs that may endanger the baby. It also helps to offer natural arthritis pain relief in long-term sufferers.

Hypnosis can also be used to induce total anesthesia in some people. Medical researchers call this hypnoanesthesia. Long before general anesthesia became popularly available to patients, many doctors performed major surgery under hypnoanesthesia.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can be used to assist people who tend to think critically or analytically. Professionals assist clients to master a very beneficial technique employed by NLP, called the 'Flash'. This technique assists people to train their unconscious minds to automatically avoid a painful sensation, and to concentrate on thoughts that will offer relaxation and comfort. People who have learned this approach find that they are no longer capable of focusing on their pain, because their thoughts instantly substitute it for thoughts that produce comfort.

Both NLP and hypnotherapy are new strategies that teach totally natural strategies for relieving pain. They allow people to avoid using pain medication or limit their need to use these medicines. Both those who are very open to suggestion and clients who are analytical thinkers can benefit from these program formats. Additionally, both have demonstrated high levels of effectiveness in assisting people to get a reprieve from their pain.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Music, Anesthesia and the Mind-Body Connection

\"Heal the World\" by Michael JacksonWhen I started blogging a few years ago, I certainly never thought there would be a connection between Michael Jackson, music and anesthesia. And yet, in the final hours of his life, it was quite possibly a dose (or overdose) of one of the most potent anesthetics available; the drug is Propofol, known by its commercial name of Diprovan.
I never met Michael Jackson or heard him perform live, but my daughters were fans and his music was heard in our home and in our car. The price of fame, infamy, success and accusations, was that he came to have chronic insomnia. You can imagine that someone who expends so much energy on stage and in life, sleep, quality sleep, is critically important.
When the usual sleep-aids quit working for him, he looked around to see what else was available. My understanding is that since he had had so many surgeries that he was well-acquainted with the drugs that anesthesiologists use to put people to sleep before surgery. Unfortunately, the choice of propofol was a deadly one. One anesthesiologist said that with this powerful drug, the difference of 1cc is the difference between sleep and death.
If only music could have put him to sleep. I know that we musicians have music playing in their heads all the time anyway, but when you add the voices of such severe critics, from his father to youngs boys he entertained at Neverland to the media and the press around the world! May he rest in peace now and may more people realize that anesthesia is powerful medication that must only be used in a hospital setting by trained professionals!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Susan Boyle and the Mind-Body Connection

What does Susan Boyle have to do with the mind-body connection? Well, I think that ever since she made headlines, her name and her whole persona have an effect on people around the world. I've talked with friends who don't even have a computer but who know who Susan is and what she accomplished. Her story is the classic, favorite, beloved tale of the underdog who rises to the top to win. She became an instantaneous internet super-star and the YouTube video on her "Britain's Got Talent" has been downloaded over 20,000,000 times! I know that for me, the mere mention of her name makes me feel excited, proud, and hopeful for humanity at large.
Tonight, enjoy this final performance of her's on Britain's Got Talent and be looking for her to become a media name for years to come!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Announcing a new course on" Music as Therapy"


I want to tell you about a wonderful new course that will be offered online this summer by my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Arthur Harvey.  The course will be quite comprehensive and cover many aspects of healing with music, how music affects the mind-body, the brain and lots, lots more.  The course is being offered through the University of Hawaii where Arthur taught for many years, but you can take it from the comfort of your own living room!
To learn more about it, go to www.musicforhealthservices.com.  

The photo above is of Dr. Harvey playing the piano in an operating room!  Sign up for this course if you want to study with an international leader in the field of music and medicine!

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Do you know about "Second Life"?

Two days ago I was interviewed by Dave Schwartz of Music Academy Online. The hour-long interview was done in Second Life, a technology that gives humans animated avatars on-screen. If you'd like to watch/listen to this and learn about how I went from being a musicologist to being a clinical musicologist, click http://www.slcn.tv/music-academy-onlive-dr-alice-cash-ph-d. I really think you'll enjoy this one!

Monday, March 09, 2009

Music and Emotions--the mind-body connection

Music is powerful...that is a given. We need no scientific proof for this, all we have to do turn on a radio, or a TV or an iPod or even start humming or whistling or even THINK about humming or singing or listening to a favorite song! Floods of memories and events and feelings will wash over you and you are transported to a farway time and place! The reason for this flood of pleasure or sadness, or even anger is because music elicits powerful memories and because the mind and body are inseparably connected, we feel like dancing or smiling or laughing or crying!

Now, can this power be harnessed? You know it can be! When we're tired or lethargic but there are still hours in the day and work to do, we know just what to reach for that will energize and motivate. For me it's usually the oldies, pop music of the 60's. When we're exhausted and need to relax, unwind, and get ready for sleep, something slow and serene is in order. For me, that might be some Celtic melody or Enya. Slow jazz or moody blues can also be good. If you're sad and grieving or mourning the loss of a friend, a relationship, a job or a pet, you know the music that will help you through it. For me it might be a minor key violin or cello concerto...Dvorak comes to mind, or Bruch or Mendelssohn. But guess what? These awarenesses that we have have are not widely stood. Many people don't realize how powerful music is and it is valued primarily as entertainment. What will YOU do to spread the word? I have a full line of healing music products at www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/products.html. Please check them out, buy a few for yourself and your family and share them with the world! Thanks!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Sound of Love?

“We are marrying human hearts to the “Universal Solvent” with the “Universal Language” - Music, to produce the “Universal Healer” - LOVEDr. Leonard G. Horowitz
528HZ Cymoglype by John Stuart Reid
Synthesizer Re-tuning to the Perfect Circle of Sound:Researching the Sound of LOVE - 528HZ Cymoglype by John Stuart ReidA Preliminary Study with Implications for BioEnergetic Healing
Here are two tutorials for professional keyboard players to re-tune from the standard A=440Hz tuning, to 528Hz–LOVE tuning. You will be amazed, possibly even shocked, to learn how A=440 was precisely selected to spiritually suppress you to the max; and why retuning now to LOVE, shall deliver you and civilization from chaotic degeneration to lasting harmony in our hearts; thus, yielding lasting peace on earth.
For conscious keyboard professionals features Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz, Executive Producer of LIVE H2O, interviewing sound engineering specialist, Michael Walton of SomaMagic Studio. In Part 1, Michael explains how to re-tune the Korg Oasys synthesizer using the Perfect Circle of Sound tuning fork set and a Korg chromatic tuner. Creating a new scale by tuning the Oasys to the Solfeggio frequency-equivalents required exclusion of dissonant tones 417Hz and 714Hz. Walton discovered that the standard tuning A note is the precise frequency equivalent to the 741Hz F# frequency in the Solfeggio. The chance this precise association between the ancient and modern scales might have happened by chance, versus by sinister imposition, is discussed in greater detail at http://www.hydrosonics.org.
The team discovers that scale-building from C equal to 528Hz frequency demonstrates 417Hz and 741Hz are disharmonious and potentially bioenergetically degrading to humans. This tutorial, developed with funding from LIVE H2O co-sponsor, OxySilver.com, is contributed to assist advanced keyboard players in retuning synthesizer software and band performances in 528Hz LOVE…
Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Another example of music that goes straight to the heart

Tonight I went to the Kentucky Center for the Arts to hear opening night of "Wicked." I felt like it got off to a little bit of a slow start...the first half was 90 minutes long, but the final song made it all worth the wait!! If you have a chance to go, I recommend it!