Therapeutic Music for Healing Spaces Chaplain David Carl Executive Director of Spiritual Care and Education Carolinas HealthCare System

10/27/20152 Music is Medicine For patients suffering with Parkinson’s Disease it gives them rhythm, tempo, and organized time. For Alzheimer’s patients it helps with the recall of emotions, scenes, and memories. Music can both calm and stimulate us for our well being. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

10/27/20153 THE HARMONY OF SINGING We are constantly transmitting words and concepts through our brains. These stir up feelings. Then these feelings release emotions into our cellular structure. What we sing creates harmony with our mind and body at the soul level for enhanced wellness or disease. You cannot sing and be depressed at the same time.

10/27/20154 SONGS CAN TAKE US TO PLACES WE CANNOT GET TO BY OURSELVES…. WHEN WE IDENTIFY OUR FAVORITE SONG WE GET A GLIMPSE INTO OUR SOUL

10/27/20155 EARWORMS Infections happen at the emotional and spiritual levels. We can creatively imagine music within our minds. Studies show that this can activate the brain almost as vividly as listening to the music. What do you find yourself singing repetitiously?

10/27/20156 The reality of our imagination can create musical hallucinations. Dr. Oliver Sacks

10/27/20157 Songs Help Us Pump Up! Patients often describe their experience as a “battle” with disease. Imageries are often used with cancer patients where tiny pac men go after the cancerous cells. LiveWell exercise classes are accompanied by motivational music.

10/27/20158 Songs Can Remind Us of Hope Many instances when the persecuted turned to song to help them weather circumstances The place of HOPE in the healing process remains powerful and immeasurable. And even if it is for that temporary moment when the pain has lessened, it is worthy to sing of miracles and inspiration.

10/27/20159 Songs of Gratitude Gratitude is the highest of all the emotions. This perspective alone would be a great medicine for many troubles. Songs of praise and thanksgiving touch us positively at the deepest levels of our souls. Bitterness and hatred ongoing leads to clogged arteries and other dis-ease.

10/27/ Songs Can Connect Us to the Transcendent Reminds us we are not alone. Reminds us there is more to life than what can be measured. Reminds us there is life beyond my present dynamics.

10/27/ When We Sing and/or Listen to Music We connect to a universal flow. We enhance our immune systems. We increase the prospect of how our time can be spent. We enrich our own hearts and that of others. Stress goes down and blood pressure is effected positively. At a soul level we feel heard. We create healing spaces around us and within us.