Music Is Far More Effective At Managing Pain Than Drugs

Now this is the kind of science I like to hear about! Some 400 published scientific papers are lending credence to the idea that music is medicine. They’re finding that neurochemical benefits brought on by music can regulate mood, reduce anxiety, and boost the immune system better than any drugs.

“We’ve found compelling evidence that musical interventions can play a health care role in settings ranging from operating rooms to family clinics,” says Prof. Levitin of McGill University’s Psychology Department. “But even more importantly, we were able to document the neurochemical mechanisms by which music has an effect in four domains: management of mood, stress, immunity and as an aid to social bonding.”

It’s no secret too that listening to music can give you a boost. It can improve your mood, boost your energy, and even make you work out more intensely. It’s better at all of these things than coffee, alcohol, and other drugs.

“We know music facilitates active neurochemical processes in a symphony of opioids which pharmaceutical intervention has been unable to match,” said Dr. Francis Chandra about the study.

“We’ve had residents where we could reduce psychotropic drugs or have them come off, and we could see benefits to staff with improvements in morale and engagement.”

What do you think? Can music be used to treat pain and other problems?

Now this is the kind of science I like to hear about! Some 400 published scientific papers are lending credence to the idea that music is medicine. They’re finding that neurochemical benefits brought on by music can regulate mood, reduce anxiety, and boost the immune system better than any drugs.

“We’ve found compelling evidence that musical interventions can play a health care role in settings ranging from operating rooms to family clinics,” says Prof. Levitin of McGill University’s Psychology Department. “But even more importantly, we were able to document the neurochemical mechanisms by which music has an effect in four domains: management of mood, stress, immunity and as an aid to social bonding.”