Alternative Medicine: Music Therapy - Coursework Example

al Affiliation Number Alternative medicine The use of non-conventional approaches has shown a high effectiveness in the alternative treatment processes. This paper thus aims at providing the summary of some of the identified methods of alternative healing like music therapy, the mind-body intervention, laughing, and shamanism. Mediation while walking, doing physical exercises like yoga, the vibe factors, and the healing attitudes are also other non-medicinal practices that may facilitate the healing process. One of the most effective ways of alternative and complementary approaches is the music therapy. Listening to music positively affect thoughts, behaviors and feelings of individuals (Lindquist et al101). Listening to the rhythm of music stimulates the body by enhancing the pulse rate and respiration pattern as well. Dancing to the tune of music can help in relaxing ones’ muscles, energizing and to some extent influencing individuals in personal ways. Music is not only effective in enhancing healing on the listeners, but also help in boosting the confidence and self-esteem of the writers since they express their thoughts and feelings when composing music. Different body parts resonate to different pitches and sounds. Some types of music can also affect the human soul and spirit powerfully based on their messages and rhythm as well. Music, being a worldwide therapy both in making and in listening, is critical in the spiritual life. The majority of the traditions of religions use music to enhance the mood for worship, prayer, joyful or reverence celebrations. Listening in watching TV brings about thrilling effect for instance having a great feeling of anticipation of watching next episodes in cinemas because of the preceding songs in a film (Lindquist et al105). This thrilling effect helps in boosting mood feeling in individuals. Studies show that playing some songs helps in increasing the intelligence quotient. Similarly, it has been established that children who study musical instruments are always more quick at problem-solving skills and spatial awareness development. Listening is also important in regulating feeding habits. A research study indicated that in busy restaurants, fast music makes people eat fast hence leaving spaces in the restaurant tables (Lindquist et al104). Music, other than making the mind relax, has played a significant role in the psychiatric institutions. It has shown effectiveness in the fastening of recovery to the patients suffering from mental disorders, for instance, the post-traumatic stress disorders. Coordination between the body and the mind is essential for the initiation of body healing. This can be substantiated by the report of the success of the mind-body intervention therapies by the medical expertise. The pioneers of mind and body connection medicine have established evidence that emotional states and mental attitudes have a significant effect in depressing and stimulating the immunity systems. This consequently aids in influencing the natural defense of the body against ill-health (Jost 213). In his opinion, Dr. Deepak Chopra asserts that the body is wholly interconnected at the neuropeptides level (Jost 214). He further says that we cannot maintain rigid distinctions between the body and the mind. The efforts of medical science have also helped in recognizing the role of the mind and body in healing by performing an experience of the placebo effect.This practice solely relies on beliefs to influence disease outcomes. When many patients are prescribed for inert substances that are aimed to treat their diseases, their trust is appreciated. Their belief that they would be cured by those substances stimulates the release of endorphins which acts as the natural painkiller of the body (Jost 215). Proponents of the mind and body intervention interpret health and illness from broader perspectives as opposed to those who pitch into the conventional or biomedical model. The view of traditional approach attributes diseases to the external agents, for instance, the bacteria and viruses causing disease problems. The mind and body therapy connects the psychosocial imbalances to this internal imbalance (Jost 217). The mind-body connection is also essential in imagery healings. The conventional dimension does not only take modern healing approaches, but also applies this technique to sophisticated lab tests, x-rays and other medications used in treating and diagnosing the illnesses. This method makes it easy for people to have full control of the physiological processes which is usually perceived inaccessible to the conscious influence of the immune function, blood pressure and heart rate (Jost 222). As a system of body component, the relaxed mind helps a lot in the coordination of cells to facilitate the healing process. The perception of the mind connects to the body through the brain tissues, and this sends impulses to the body tissues that immediately speed up the recovery process. Laughter, as viewed by the majority in the healthcare platform, is an essential defense counter to major disease and illnesses alongside boosting the immunity system. Medical research indicates that chuckling frequently increases the T-cells level which is important in fighting back infections and the beta cells which handle producing disease-fighting antibodies (Ewing et al. 11). Additionally, as an alternative approach to medicine, laughter strengthens one’s immunity system and more importantly, effective circulation of oxygen in the blood through the muscles and the heart (Ewing et al. 12). Psychologists also concur that laughing can help in the prevention of cardiac attack through energized sense of humor. A study conducted by medical psycho-analysts established that stress can be associated with the damage of the endothelial cells that are the protective barriers in the blood vessels. Damage to this lining could lead to series of reactions of inflammation hence leading to heart attack. Stress and depression that are some of the leading problems associated to mental ill-health can be countered by the stimulation neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are released by laughter such as serotonin hormone that is widely known for the benefits that it has for the health (Ewing et al. 13). Shamanism has been a healing method in the western culture for a good time. It is an orderly way of obtaining knowledge and assistance. This is grounded on the fact that we do not have to confine ourselves to operating in one dimension and reality whenever we are in need of help (Ewing et al. 14). It is assumed that the spirits who are consulted by the shaman gives the same reality and wisdom that are published for writings. All that is required of individuals is to have open minds and make efforts to adhere to the shaman’s instructions and paths. An important feature of shamanism is that it gives an ancient strategy of solving the daily challenges of life. It does not only help in solving complicated and metaphysical situations of real life and issues related to death, but is also helpful in solving minor and simpler problems in life. The shaman can either be a male or a female in the community. They communicate directly with the spirit world, and this should be done freely out of a good heart for the society and not for selfish gain. They are also expected to be humble to the community and to work in a similar manner to any other member of the society as well. The community members prefer shaman’s healings because it is prompt and has not to be done for a couple of days (Ewing et al. 12). The shamans do not necessarily rely on the psychedelic drugs for their healings. However, easy it sounds of drumbeats are their common journey to their spirit world. It has been established that walking on earth mindfully is essential in restoring the harmony and peace of an individual’s mind. This can as well restore the harmony and peace of the land (Lindquist et al. 15). The earth is healed through the massage that our feet do it. Conversely, it also heals us by providing the natural fresh air that we breathe through its green vegetation. Whenever an individual is walking downhill or uphill, the number of breaths changes with the number of steps made. This is the ideal number of breaths needed by the lungs (Lindquist et al. 18). Continuous practice of smiling brings delight to the steps that individuals take. Repeated performance of this keeps one’s attention thus enhancing the balance of mindfulness (Lindquist et al. 20). Attitude is a crucial aspect that needs to be considered the general healing process. It is as well important to develop habits which overcome negative blocks and develop attitudes that are positive and life affirming to enhance healing (Jill149). Examining the overall pattern of somebody’s life is the very first step that ought to be taken if at all one has to be healed. From spiritual standpoints, the standard blocks are emotions and harmful attitudes that people have. Even though factors such as jealousy, envy, hatred and other destructive feelings and attitudes start in the mind, they are quickly manifested in the body. Believing in the power of the healer is imperative to those who seek for treatments. Positive attitude to the healers like the societal medicine men and the magicians creates substantial impacts on the sick by believing their concoctions and the items that they use in treatments like the feathers of birds (Jill151). Jill Neimark in his article on psychology, today further asserts that our attitudes greatly influence our view of the world. Of course, our thoughts play a part in shaping our world (Jill 65). In as much as a positive attitude is required among the people who seek treatment, the healers equally need to believe in themselves. Their sincere and professional attitudes make their clients develop trust in their services. Professionalism is an important attribute since many clients value competency a lot while receiving their treatments. This is a spiritual tradition that started in India several years ago and was one of the methods useful in the alternative medical approaches. Yoga is one of the most comprehensive ways of reducing stress by offering numerous tools in shifting the autonomic nervous system balance in the Para synthetic side. It helps in calming the mind, lowering the levels of hormones responding to stress such as cortisol. Additionally, it is also essential in the treatment of stress related illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome and insomnia. Yoga, other than preventing some complications like cardiac arrest and diabetes, also helps in enhancing laughing that tones the digestive system. The laughter during yoga is also helpful in raising pulse rates and the blood pressure. Efficiency and effectiveness of complementary and alternative approaches in treatments of various illnesses have continuously been reported across the world. Their applications are highly recommended both in public and private medical clinics. This is because their use to complement conventional medicine for instance therapies while surgeries and X-ray have proved to be fruitful. Alternative interventions have also been widely used in place of the medical drugs for example shamanism which has been widely reported in the western world. Work Cited Jost, Sandy. Your Mind, Your Body: & Their Link to Your Health. St. Louis, MO: ONE Health Pub., LLC, 2004. Print. Ewing, Jim P. F. Reiki Shamanism: A Guide to Out-of-Body Healing. Findhorn, Forres, Scotland: Findhorn Press, 2008. Print. Lindquist, Ruth, Mariah Snyder, and Mary F. Tracy. Complementary & Alternative Therapies in Nursing. , 2014. Print Jill Neimark, Journey to Healthy Living: Freedom from Body Image and Food Issues2008. Print. 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