Music therapy has a rich history that spans centuries, evolving from ancient practices to a modern, evidence-based discipline. The concept of using music for healing dates back to ancient civilizations, where the Indians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Chinese believed in music’s therapeutic powers. In these cultures, music was used in religious and ritualistic contexts to calm the mind, improve mental health, and promote physical healing.
Music therapy was used in India as early as the 5th century BC. It was part of everyday life and was known as “Sangeetha Chikitsa”. Evidence of music therapy in ancient India comes from:
- Sushruta and Charaka: Researchers from the University of Hyderabad found evidence that these ancient Indian medical practitioners used music therapy to treat coma patients.
- Gandharva tattva: This 4th century BCE science of music is documented in literature.
- Raga chikitsa: This 600 CE literature dealt with the therapeutic effects of raga.
- Swami Haridas: In the 1600s, he used music to treat illnesses.
- Saint Thyagaraja: In the 18th to 19th centuries, he was said to have used a classical song to bring a dead person back to life.
In the early 20th century, the world over, music therapy began to formalize as a recognized profession. During World War I and II, music was used to treat soldiers suffering from shell shock, trauma, and emotional distress. Hospitals employed musicians to play for patients, which resulted in noticeable improvements in mood, anxiety levels, and social interaction. The effectiveness of this treatment led to increased interest in exploring music’s potential in clinical settings.
By the 1940s and 1950s, music therapy became more structured, with training programs and academic courses emerging to teach the principles and practices of using music for therapeutic purposes. Music therapy became more widely accepted as a clinical practice, with organizations like the American Music Therapy Association being established in 1950 to further standardize the field.
Today, music therapy is recognized as a valuable tool in a wide range of healthcare settings, including hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Therapists use music to address a variety of conditions, from physical disabilities to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, dementia, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. Modern music therapy integrates both traditional and contemporary approaches, incorporating techniques like listening to music, song writing, guided imagery, dancing and improvisation to meet the needs of individuals across the lifespan.
The forms of music used in India have largely been in the form of Hindustani and Carnatic classical. I and my team at the NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences at Nagpur, have, perhaps for the first time, used light music, especially its film variant, for the treatment of depression with success.