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news
Let the music
heal your soul
By Ayako Ando
On-line Forty-Niner
Certain kinds of
music can heal and relax students at Cal State Long Beach
who are under pressure of final exams.
Researchers and
doctors at All Japan Musical Treatment Union in Japan, psychosomatic
medical centers and other psychiatric centers in Japan have
continued to study the benefits of music since first announcing
results in 1985.
These researchers
have certified that humans produce brain waves, called alpha,
beta, theta and delta waves.
The theta wave
is seen when people are in between sleep and consciousness
and the delta wave is seen when people are completely asleep.
The alpha wave,
which is produced when people are in the calm and peaceful
conditions, and the beta wave, which is produced when people
are nervous and tense, affect stress levels.
In short, to reduce
stress, we have to decrease the amount of beta waves and increase
the amount of alpha waves. And, experts say, that we can control
the waves by music.
Music with stability
induces alpha waves and reaches brain through the auditory
sense and autonomic nerves, which start to stabilize the mind,
according to the experts' research.
The research has
also proved that "alpha music" quickens the circulation of
the blood.
This treatment,
called music therapy, has become popular in Japan these days
as. Some hospitals play alpha music in waiting rooms, examination
rooms and even operating rooms to lessen the patients' tension.
Recently, a report
issued by All Japan Musical Treatment Union said people can
improve their recovering abilities when in a deeply relaxing
conditions. The method is becoming more popular.
According to the
report, our own ability to store memories and imagine also
can be improved by the amount of alpha waves in the body.
Music treatment
is becoming popular not only in Japan but also in many other
countries.
When stress builds
up, people may suffer from insomnia, anxiety, anorexia or
melancholy and some people can develop serious illness from
the stress.
Music is not a
medicine and has no side effects, so everybody can feel free
to try this method, said Mariko Makino, a doctor from the
Japan Biomusic Academy, a psychosomatic medical center.
Classical music
is recommended as typical alpha music and is used by many
researchers and doctors.
"Since I heard
that classical music is good to relax, I have been trying
to listen to it often," said Mickey Lee, a CSULB freshman
student majoring in music. "I really think it's working, so
I recommend it to everyone."
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