MUSIC AS MEDICINE?

Have you ever considered music as medicine?  I know when we brought my late husband home from the hospital on hospice, my daughter set up music at his bedside. She is a medical professional who works with critically ill patients, and I was thankful she knew what to do. It was obvious how the music relaxed him. I hadn't thought much about that now as my husband has been gone four years.

Yesterday while reading, I came across a small note from a Dr. John Westerdahl who wrote, "As a health professional, I strongly believe in the concept of music as medicine." He went on to say that he had had lectures and mini concerts at a medical center to demonstrate how peaceful and relaxing, as well as energizing, good-quality music can be. He ended by saying, "I even had a physician on our wellness and lifestyle medicine staff that would play the harp in patient rooms if they requested it."

I am a believer.

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