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Musical Healing

I heard this Atanu Sanyal album for the first time when I was in college and was completely entranced. It was a love that did not fade with time and cassette tape was worn out by the the time I came to America. Somewhere between the multiple moves and significant life events, I lost track of my beloved tape. 

This year, during Puja I felt an acute longing to listen to it again and bought the album online. As the music filled my living room, I felt the broken pieces of my life symbolically turn whole again. Long forgotten memories lit up and brightened the evening. I remained in a blissful state long after the last track had played and it was an amazing experience. This is the closest I have come to experiencing the healing power of music

Research findings have supported a wide range of music therapy benefits from changing brain waves to lowering heart rate and blood pressure.  While clinical trials, to date, have been small, the results are promising.   Music therapy has been shown to boost the effects of anti-nausea medications in patients receiving chemotherapy and reduce pain perception.


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