Music is medicine for body and soul

Jazz, classical, rock, hiphop, zouk, rap, reggae and all the various genres of music have a profound effect on one’s body, mind and general health. There is an ever growing field in HealthCare known as Music Therapy which uses music to heal people from particular ailments. When dealing with depression and anxiety, most people will resort to soothing music to relieve the stress and keep a positive state of mind. In a way that many can’t comprehend, music always works miraculously. Bosco Mparaye, a resident of Gasiata says that he loves Classical and Jazz music because it acts like medicine whenever he is going through a lot of stress or suffering from his migraines that are common. “I get migraines quite often besides the stress that comes with work and all life’s demands. I have my collection of classics and jazz music that does a great job, I almost compare it to visiting a doctor,” Mparaye says. Mparaye says that when he listens to Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, or Jonathan Butler’s music, then that is remedy enough to clear any stress and sickness he could be going through. Research also has it that music lowers high blood pressure thus reducing the risk of stroke disease. Music counteracts the damaging effects of chronic stress and helps one relax and enjoy good health. Agatha Mutamba, Medical Personnel at Kanombe Hospital says that Music helps patients relax away from their thoughts of the worry and sickness. “Usually sickness comes along with fear and worry of the direction of the next stage of sickness. One may think they might get worse and the best way to get relief is through listening to soothing music,” says Mutamba. She adds that, “usually when people are sick, they tend to be taken up by worry about the next stage the sickness might take, they worry about getting worse, and footing the medical bill. But soothing music can act as Paracetamol, since it relieves patients from pain and stress.” Alex Ndahiro, a deejay who presents the ‘Most Wanted’ and ‘Flash Back’ shows on Flash FM says that music is a therapy and plays a big role in improving one’s health. “Sometimes listeners request for music saying the particular songs will cheer them up because they aren’t feeling well. So most of the time, people will listen to music to mitigate stress or the pain they are going through,” says Ndahiro. The Flash FM presenter adds that besides medication, the best way one could keep peaceful in a cheery mood and good health is through listening to soothing music.m.kaitesi@yahoo.com Kicker “Sometimes listeners request for music saying the particular songs will cheer them up because they aren’t feeling well. So most of the time, people will listen to music to mitigate stress or the pain they are going through.”