Music Therapy: A proven method for effective medical treatment- Listening to music can have powerful effects on the body and mind- Studies show that music therapy can lower stress and improve overall health- Music has no side effects and can be used in combination with other treatments

The Power of Music Therapy in Medical Treatment

Ibn Batutah, who managed to visit this hospital on vacation in Egypt, also commented on its indescribable beauty. Hunke denoted this hospital to be the biggest and richest health institute ever built on this planet. This hospital was operated fully using endowment (waqf) funds.

The treatment methods recommended for melancholia, insomnia, and lovesickness clearly illustrate that music therapy was not the main (conventional) treatment. Music therapy was more of an adjunct treatment to complement the main treatment methods suggested, with the role of overcoming symptoms so that the patient is distracted, calmed down, and entertained.

<ul><li>What is music therapy? It's using music and its elements to help us physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.</li><li>Who can benefit from it? Anyone looking to optimize their quality of life in medical, educational, or everyday environments.</li></ul>

The Power of Music in Therapy

For treating melancholia, Ibn Sina recommended listening to music and singing, besides ventilation, selected foods, bath therapy, massage with poultice, medication, evacuation, cupping, wrapping, and distracting patient with something pleasurable and soothing, such as bringing someone he/she likes.For lovesickness, Ibn Sina recommended treatment by listening to singing or music, besides evacuation, nutritious diet, bath therapy, and counselling.

The hospitals during the medieval era in Islamic civilization had a unique approach to treatment - music therapy. Some of these hospitals include:

<ul>
<li>Bimarastan Fez (Sidi Frej) in Morocco</li> 
<li>Bimarastan al-Mansuri in Cairo</li>
<li>Bimarastan al-Arghuni in Aleppo, Syria</li>
<li>Bimarastan Nur al-Din in Damascus</li>
<li>Kayseri Gevher Nesibeh Darussifas</li>
<li>Divrigi Ulu Mosque and Darussifas</li>
<li>Amasya Darussifas</li>
<li>Fatih Darussifas in Istanbul</li>
<li>Edirne Sultan Bayezid II Darussifas</li>
<li>Suleymaniye Sifahanesi</li>
<li>A hospital established by Ayse Hafsa Sultan</li>
</ul>

Hospitals that Used Music Therapy in Medieval Islamic Civilizati

As per Ibn Iyas, the hospital endowment had two conditions: 1) providing music every evening to uplift patients' spirits and 2) reciting the Qur'an in the domed hall. Musicians received a monthly salary while Qurra' were paid in wheat and birds.

Hospital Endowment: Music and Qur'anic Recitation

..Music includes:<ul><li>Instrumental music</li><li>The sound of singing</li><li>Adhan (call to prayer)</li><li>Quranic recitation</li><li>Sounds of nature, such as of birds singing and of water from a fountain pool.</li></ul>

Some of the ways music therapy helps:<ul><li>Reducing anxiety 🎵: Music can help people feel more relaxed and calm.</li><li>Improving thinking 💭: Music can help people think better and remember things more clearly.</li><li>Promoting movement 💪: Music can help people with physical rehabilitation and changing their body movements.</li><li>Enhancing communication 🗣️: Music can help people feel more comfortable talking and connecting with others.</li></ul>

The Power of Music Therapy

This definition sums up the three main characteristics that form the basis of music: (i) sound, tone of voice, and instrument; (ii) capability of satisfying emotions and aesthetics, and (iii) fulfilling a particular purpose in a belief system.

Bimarastan Fez (Sidi Frej) in Morroco was built in 1286 AD by Sultan Yusuf ibn Ya’qub (Banu Marin) to treat patients with depression, using music therapy, herbs, and spices. It also served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill.

Bimarastan Fez (Sidi Frej) - A Historical Psychiatric Hospital

Function of Music therapy:<ol><li>Entertain, soothe, relieve, or reduce pain</li><li>Strengthen body immunity</li><li>Help in healing</li><li>Distract attention from pain and promote calmness to aid in the recovery process</li></ol>

Music Therapy as a Complementary Treatment

Ibn Sina’s (Avicenna) denotes that one of the most effective methods in medical treatment is listening to music, which clearly illustrates the position of music therapy in medical treatment. This chapter discusses four matters: (i) the concept of music therapy as medical treatment, (ii) the function of music therapy as a method of complementary treatment aimed more towards calming and relieving pain, but not as a total cure for the patient, (iii) the hospitals that applied music therapy as treatment, and (iv) the process of applying music therapy in the medical tradition of the Islamic civilisation. Music here includes instrumental music, the sound of singing, adhan (call to prayer), Quranic recitation, as well as sounds of nature, such as of birds singing and of water from a fountain pool. Among the hospitals that applied such therapy was Bimarastan Fez in Morroco, Bimarastan al-Mansuri at Cairo, Egypt, Bimarastan al-Arghuni at Allepo, Syria, Bimarastan Nur al-Din at Damascus City, and Suleymaniye Sifahanesi.

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