Playlist: Healing Arts: The Arts and Medicine
Art has been used over the centuries to help people accept a medical condition they cannot change or to provide a spiritual lift during difficult times. But, increasingly, the arts are being used in a scientifically ordered manner to improve health in specific ways. Studies have shown that arts therapy can reduce pain, improve the health of pre-term babies, decrease the severity of headaches, and improve speech of people who’ve had strokes. This program from The Doctor Is In profiles several examples, including a dance that evolved out of dealing with AIDS, murals in a children’s cancer clinic, a physician who is also a professional clown, music therapy for autistic children, and a woman with manic-depressive illness who uses painting as therapy. A Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center production. (29 minutes)
Long considered important to health, many doctors believe the arts hold a significant impact on human physiology. Music increases the release of endorphins, stimulates the immune system, and increases cardiovascular efficiency.
One woman finds painting has become a therapeutic way to cope with her manic-depressive illness. For a man who grew up in the violent inner city of Philadelphia, playing the drums helped him cope with feelings of hostility.
In hospitals, music therapy helps people with severe neurological problems. Music can improve gait and speech, improve communication, reduce pain, limit severity of headaches, and improve health of preterm babies.
At the Nordoff-Robbins Center for music therapy, music helps children with various conditions including severe autism in order to improve life skills and stimulate various forms of creative expression.
Painted murals in a children's cancer clinic depict scenes of health, illness, and treatment using symbols of hope. Joan Drescher takes children through a workshop using a children's book she wrote and illustrated about dealing with cancer.
At the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, artists help train medical students how to communicate with children and their family. In other hospitals, music, windows, and art exhibits help patients deal with pain and recover faster.
Dr. Patch Adams, a physician and professional clown, brings art in the form of comedy across the world. Patch teaches that love and humor relieve pain, aid healing, and generally improve health.
The arts should not replace medical treatment but patients benefit from the inclusion of art therapy in their treatment.