http://the-brain-and-music.blogspot.com/2009/07/music-releases-endorphins-in-brain.html

Everyone knows that music makes them feel better, but apparently, music immediately after surgery is even more powerful than previously known. today I came across this article: By Denise DadorLOS ANGELES (KABC) — A local hospital takes the healing properties of music right to the patients.
She’s in the hospital, but Carol Starks feels she’s being transported to another place.
“A little music goes a long way and it soothes the soul,” said Starks.
Bariatric surgeon and musician, Dr. Peter Crookes, heals for a living but says modern medicine can only bring people so far. The rest depends on the patient and he believes music helps.
“It may cause the release of endorphins and that is one of the postulate mechanisms. Anything that will open the patient’s mind to other dimensions of life helps them to cope with it,” said Dr. Crookes.
Musician Jane Kim founded the USC volunteer program. She saw music’s medical effects firsthand when her father was a patient.
“At the time that he was in the hospital he found it very beneficial listening to music. And seeing the positive effects it had on him I wanted to share that with others,” said Kim.
Once a month, some patients get treated to an impromptu concert.
“It was just great. It just made me feel very good and it made me feel very special,” said patient Ceci Montalvo.
We all enjoy hearing music, but if it’s just in the background and you’re just passively listening, experts say it’s not going to work on your body and mind. To truly experience music you have to actively listen to it.
“If you attend to music it channels the brain and trains certain actions in the brain which I think are beneficial,” said Dr. Crookes.
Studies show music can help people recovering from pain and reduce the need for post-op medications.
Another study reveals music can reduce the anxiety of patients just before surgery. Patients say music’s ability to alter their mood can be quite beneficial.
“It makes happiness. It doesn’t matter how sad you are or how hurt you are, music can bring it out,” said Starks.
If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Music Heals program send an e-mail to musichealsgroup@gmail.com.

Click here for more headlines from ABC7 Eyewitness News

(Copyright ©2009 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

The operating room of a hospital is a highly stressful place. Surgeons and assistants have to be extremely attentive, moving quickly but carefully. Playing music during surgeries has been shown to relax the staff and the patients. Some of the benefits that extend to the recovery room are lower heart rate, blood pressure and reduced need for pain medication.Dr. Claudius Conrad, now a senior surgical resident at Harvard Medical School, suggests music can go even further. He’s published a paper suggesting that music can stimulate a 50 percent jump in pituitary growth hormone. The hormone is associated with stress but, paradoxically, can help exert healing. Dr. Conrad is also a classically-trained pianist with a doctorate in music theory.Also, the study of music therapy has evolved in the United States for the past half a century, and there’s growing evidence that music is as good for the body as it is for the soul.