Musical Reflections

As I was reading through my Mizzou Alumni magazine, I came across an article that was fascinating and decided to share it with you here!

A technique called iRest Yoga Nidra meditation has been found to be effective in treating PTSD among military veterans. A social work major thought perhaps it would be helpful with domestic violence victims, so she is doing research.

iRest stands for Integrative Restoration and it is instructor-led meditation into deep relaxation, guiding participants through their inner strengths and desires, intentions, feelings, emotions and beliefs. As I read through the article, I wondered how harp music might be helpful in this process/journey. Might be worth a phone call or e-mail??

It will be interesting to see what she finds out in the research….

Since 2006, I have played the harp at the hospital bedside in tandem with a Healing Touch instructor/practitioner. We have experienced some amazing results working together! And now we have research to prove it…

For a couple of years, we have been talking about presenting our work together. And now we have that opportunity! In mid-March, we will be at the International Harp Therapy conference in San Diego, CA. As a graduate in the first class of this program, it is an honor to speak to my colleagues. And San Diego in mid-March will be a welcome break from the cold Minnesota winter! Can’t wait…

I am excited to let you know the research study “Impact of Healing Touch and Healing Harp on In-Patient Acute Care Pain” is published in the Holistic Nursing Practice. This ground-breaking study examines the concomitant use of two complementary modalities to reduce pain, anxiety and nausea in the postoperative patient population. E-mail me for more information about this exciting research!

The Western model of medicine is based on research and medical technology. This is positive and gives us a certain baseline of professionalism from medical staff (doctors and nurses) and comfort about caring for our health.

Is there research about music and its positive effects? Yes! An excellent “primer” of research information about music and healing is Don Campbell’s “The Mozart Effect.” This book is filled with documentation about music and its impact in a variety of situations and with a multitude of illnesses/diseases.

That said, I have seen again and again that there’s a mystery to the healing power of music. Miraculous things happen while I play the harp at the hospital and hospice bedside. Sometimes, it can’t be explained … there’s no research, no evidence, no reason “why.” It is a mystery, a mystical experience. Music helps create sacred space, a healing environment. We may never understand exactly how/why it works … that’s part of the mystery. And part of our human experience is about living in the mystery, allowing it to just be.

Let’s not discount these amazingly beautiful experiences just because they are anecdotal and without “data.” It really is about integrating the mystery with evidence-based medicine … now, that’s Mind/Body/Spirit healing!

In May 2006, I began volunteering with Barb Schommer (Certified Healing Touch Practitioner/Instructor) at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, MN.

The Woodwinds’ Integrative Therapies department recently released a research summary of our work together, “The Impact of Healing Touch with Harp Therapy on Inpatient Acute Care Pain: A Retrospective Analysis.”

We are excited to announce very positive results! The complete report will be available soon … please contact me at tami@MusicalReflections.com if you would like a copy.