Music as medicine

      A McGill University study has found that 
      music boosts the body's immune system and is more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety before a surgery. Music causes neurons in a primitive part of the brain, (the brain stem) to be activated in sync with the beat, triggering a cascade of chemical effects on the nervous system, tending to evoke relaxation with a slow beat or enhancing concentration and alertness at a faster tempo.

    "I think the promise of music as medicine is that it's natural and it's cheap and it doesn't have the unwanted side effects that many pharmaceutical products do," said Daniel Levitin, who co-authored the review.

  Music, researchers say, has documented effects on brain chemistry and associated mental and physical health benefits in four areas:

·        Mood management
  Stress reducer
·        Immune system boost
·        Aids social bonding.

   Drumming 
      Drumming reverses effects of aging Another group of studies found that older adults can boost their immune function, reversing age-related declines, by making music as participants in drumming circles, Levitin said.

Link to study
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/music-as-medicine-has-huge-potential-study-suggests-1.1359045