Harp:
“The Ultimate Musical Massage”
and healed by the ancient and therapeutic sound and vibrations of the Celtic harp. Whether pain, stress, insomnia, depression or illness is your concern, or if you simply need a special musical sanctuary to soothe each molecule of your being with comfort and bliss, harp therapy has been shown to be the ultimate musical massage. Some practitioners combine relaxation therapy, guided imagery, and medi- tation along with the gift of healing harp music. Studies show that harp therapy can equalize and slow down
M
brain waves; affect respiration, heartbeat, and pulse; reduce muscle tension; and improve body movement. Premature babies who have received harp therapy are able to drink more of their mother’s milk and gain weight more rapidly, resulting in earlier departure times from the hospital. Harp therapy increases endorphin levels, regulates stress-related hormones, boosts the immune system, and stimulates digestion and the overall feeling of well-being. Therapeutic musi- cians help to create a relaxed, healing environment through live music, which studies find to be even more effective than recorded music.
Professional journals now provide ample research regarding the
many uses of harp therapy. In “The Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine,” researchers Aragon, Farris and Byers found that harp music in vascular and thoracic surgical patients was highly effec- tive. (2002). It can decrease salivary cortisol levels in convalescent premature infants, as noted in “Pediatric Research” by authors Block, Jennings and David. (2003). Even the pain from lupus has been eased by harp therapy, according to K.A. Bock in “The Harp Therapy Journal.” (1999). Surprisingly, harp therapists have worked in the op- erating rooms, and helped to ease blood pressure and maintain heart rate, according to research by L. Buchanana in “The Harp Therapy Journal.” (1996). There is a cutting edge intervention used by the music thana- tolgoists, which uses prescriptive harp music as palliative care for
any people may be unaware of a unique and deeply therapeutic musical intervention, Therapeutic Harp Music. Imagine yourself lying on a massage table, being soothed
the dying patient. The “American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care” documents this with research by Caserta, Freeman and Lund. (2005) Harp therapy can aid even the professionals who work with the dying, as noted by “The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. “ (2002) Researchers found that oncology nurses were greatly restored and nurtured by harp therapy after working intensely with their dying patients.
Children are also helped by harp therapy. Researcher Marie Sumner, writing in “Pediatric Research” in 2005 found that therapeu-
34 Natural Nutmeg
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48