Using music and guided imagery, Loewy says she helps patients metaphorically prepare for death and eases their suffering. Loewy says music is processed along the same neural pathways as pain and therefore is used increasingly for the pain that accompanies procedures like spinal taps. She says if a patient gets involved in music before the procedure, those pathways already are busy so the patient doesn't feel pain. Loewy says studies also show that music can help babies gain weight faster and can change the rate of their breathing. We do a lot of work with cancer, and music is almost always included as part of therapeutic work now.
Music is now very quickly becoming a mainstream therapy.
Music therapy shouldn't be used in place of traditional therapy, but in conjunction with it. If you think you're a candidate for music therapy, talk with your doctor about getting a referral. Music therapy programs are offered at many hospitals. Loewy and Gordon say music programs should be individually tailored because music that relaxes one patient may annoy another. For more information on music therapy, check American Music Therapy Association or the University of Exeter's music therapy page .