THE RHYTHMS OF LIFE: MUSIC THERAPY FOR THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL

The main objective of the present study was to conduct an in depth study of the advances made in the therapy with music and the developments made in its applications in the health care, using primarily resources of published material in the internet. The current study was mainly aimed at understanding music therapy from the perspective of its applications in the field of medicine as a novel alternative therapy. Music therapy is defined as a holistic and utilitarian approach towards treatment by applying music or specialized sounds with a view to cure disease or disease conditions in a completely non invasive manner. Apart from the advantage that it does not have any side effects, it also have an added advantage that it is a completely patient friendly therapy, that is the therapy can be conducted in the comfort zone of the patient. It is the psychological and emotional approach towards treatment that makes this therapy stands out from the conventional therapies. The main objective of music therapy is to alter the patient’s psychological condition and increase their receptivity towards the medication. Recent researchers are pointing out the effectiveness of this therapy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia and a lot of positive research conclusions are accumulating, promising the future of music therapy as a potential therapy.