A boy whose spindly legs are encased in steel braces stands up unassisted for the first time in his life. A man who had hovered between life and death for several days regains consciousness and recovers fully. A woman scheduled for neurosurgery arrives at the hospital tense, shaking and with a racing pulse, but she's wheeled into the operating room calm, breathing normally and in a positive frame of mind. Music has also been said to enhance memory, increase IQ, build up the immune system, reduce symptoms of stress, and help overall development. Music's healing powers are both psychological and physiological.
Music can lower blood pressure, respiration rate and stress hormones in the blood.
It can also increase the production of endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers, and salivary immunoglobulin A, which accelerates healing, lessens the chance of infection and regulates the heartbeat. Music falling in this category includes baroque, classical and most New Age instrumentals. Personal preference also is a key factor in music therapy. Nona Irvine, a registered nurse, has worked in various capacities at The Queen's Medical Center for more than 20 years. As director of administrative services, her responsibilities include programs that support the hospital's lokomaika'i philosophy.