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'Zoe
is my first child and breastfeeding was very painful. Often I was so very tense,
the milk wouldn't come. Now I put on Calmtime first, which relaxes both of us
and feeding her is now an enjoyable experience.' Leslie,
Bristol, UK All
the research mentioned here has been based on using conventional quiet music.
It's worth remembering that Calmtime, with its powerful combination of relaxation
aids, is likely to bring you a much stronger effect. Listening
to music could considerably reduce chronic pain, say scientists.
Sandra Siedlecki of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, along with other researchers,
studied over 60 patients who were suffering from osteoarthritis, disc problems
and rheumatoid arthritis for an average of six and a half years. (This was reported
on the online edition of BBC News.)
They found that those who listened to soothing music reported a lessening in pain
levels of up to 21 percent and in depression of up to 25 percent, compared to
those who did not.
The Journal of Advanced Nursing study also found music helped people feel less
disabled by their condition. Professor
Marion Good, who also worked on the study, said: "Listening to music has
already been shown to promote a number of positive benefits and this research
adds to the growing body of evidence that it has an important role to play in
modern healthcare." 'The
Calmtime music seems to help me take my mind off the joint pain in my shoulder,
especially at night.' Jenny, Devon
Scientists in Florida have found that just 20 minutes a day of music was enough
for patients to report more than a 50% reduction in pain levels. The research
was published in the Journal for Advanced Nursing. It was based on tests on 66
older people with chronic osteoarthritis.
Over the 14-day listening period, the amount of natural pain relief continued
to increase. Half spent two weeks listening to music for 20 minutes a day and
the others spent 20 minutes sitting quietly. "My
average amount of sleep had been between 4-5 hours a night. I would wake in the
early hours and the pain in my back made it impossible to get back to sleep. Now
I play Calmtime and get back to sleep for another 3 hours. Marvellous.' Margaret,
Cornwall
Lead researcher Professor Ruth McCaffrey, from the Florida Atlantic University
College of Nursing, said: "Listening to music is thought to cause the release
of endorphins, which reduce pain, such as muscle pain and decrease blood pressure,
the heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen consumption."
Dr. Cathy Stannard, of the British Pain Society, said other studies had shown
music could have a positive impact. Muscular
tension produces aches and pains, particularly in the neck and back. Stress
causes increased muscle tension which has a direct effect on increasing your pain
levels. Therefore, reduction of stress and muscle tension helps to reduce your
pain. Stress saps your energy
and reduces your ability to cope with the pain and your life. Recent
studies indicate music can soothe severe pain for patients recovering from medical
procedures. Music may be a good complement to pain-relief drugs, according
to a new review of clinical studies.
Patients who listened to music after surgery reported less pain than other patients
who were not exposed to music, the review found. Music also reduced the patients'
need for morphine-like drugs.
The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication
of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research
in all aspects of health care. Many
dentists use relaxing Music. If your dentist does not yet offer this service,
you are often allowed to bring your own personal stereo and listen to the music
during treatment. When you are relaxed and at ease, pain more or less disappears.
For
people who find it particularly difficult to relax because of extreme pain we
have a spoken hypnotic download called Relax Yourself. It lasts for 20 minutes
and the music is from the orginal calmtime CD. www.calmtime.co.uk/download.htm
You can hear a sound sample on the home page if you click on Listen.
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