Music Therapy and Its Status in Iranian Medical Texts and Knowledge: The association Between Music and Medicine

Music is a scientific-cultural phenomenon that is related to medicine. The present study aims at reviewing the status of Iranian music in medical knowledge and its effectiveness on the brain and other organs of the body for treatment. This study with a descriptive-analytical approach by the keywords of music therapy, songs, and music history has been done by reviewing papers, books, medical history sources, and valid databases. A content review of texts shows that Iranian musicians have been aware of the music’s effect on the quadruple temperaments as maintaining health and a therapeutic method for physical and mental illnesses. They believed in the connection between human nature and melodies. Today, researchers also believe that the metaphysical power of music and its positive effects on human morality and behavior and emotional states can be viewed from two dimensions: general and specific. Music therapy is a complementary therapy that improves the healing process of patients by raising the threshold of beneficial stress and mitigating negative affections, regulating internal processes, creating a state of relaxation, and boosting safety strength. Music was played in religious ceremonies in ancient Iran and was a sub-branch of mathematical sciences. Philosophers, physicians, musicians, and even poets have expounded on the effect of music on the human psyche. Music stimulates motivation, energy, and emotional connection, and because of its cost-effectiveness, attractiveness, ease of use, non-invasiveness, and performance by non-specialists, the latter can be used as a particular therapeutic technique in medicine and standard therapies and rehabilitation.

Keywords:

Music therapy , Medicine , Mental disorders , Patients