Harvard Medicine, once known as the Harvard Medical Alumni Bulletin, reports on a pleasant (and inexpensive) way to lower blood pressure and relieve stress. It's called Mozart, specifically Mozart's piano sonatas. The magazine reports that a senior
surgical resident at Massachusetts General
Hospital, randomized postsurgical critically
ill intensive-care patients and had them listen
to recordings of gentle Mozart piano music
for one hour, during which their sedation was
lifted. The control group was not exposed
to music.
When researches tested
the patients, they found that classical music
reduced blood pressure and heart rate,
lowered stress-hormone levels, and reduced
the need for sedatives. Another finding
was more surprising: The patients’ levels
of pituitary growth hormone rose by 50
percent, while levels of interleukin-6, which
increases in response to stress, dropped
significantly.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Of course, this was a Western test using music Westerners are familiar with. It would be interesting to see the same studies done in say Japan using traditional shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) pieces to see if they calm, lower blood pressure, etc., or in China with their traditonal flute music both of which have a long history and tradition of being used for healing.
namaste
who cares where the music comes from as long as it works! Are you really that sensitive to where the music comes from? Better keep the music on.