Music therapy is priceless as it comforts the sick, lifts moods, reduces anxiety, raises motivation and helps combat insomnia and depression. It could also help to recover from traumatic brain injury which has damaged the ability to speak
Music is inseparable from our lives. It smoothes the rough lives, heals the unhealed souls and consoles broken hearts. Have you ever heard that music could heal where medicine has failed in some cases? Music can do miracles. This secret is lesser known, but Youth Observer found a Sri Lankan doctor who tries to heal patients with just Music. Dr. Lahiru Praboda who works at Dikoya Hospital is doing great service healing patients while playing the guitar.
Dr. Lahiru perceives music as a universal language that is understood by everyone. “Music has the ability to reach our spirit and has healing power which is faster than medicine. It creates emotional responses which relax the patient. Research has shown that music can change the structure of any solid thing including our body. With that technology at present the doctors use music therapy in healing paralysed patients, coma patients and post surgical patients who go through heart surgery. It also helps depressed patients to uplift their mental condition. At present it is becoming a part of patient care.” he said.
“I soon realised that I could support patients with my knowledge of music. I had been doing this since my internship. The patients’ response was immeasurable. It is the ultimate happiness I gained at the end of the day.
As I remember, when I was participating in the Sirasa Super Star reality show in 2015, some people came to the hospital just to see me without any illness and still I can remember the first fan who recognised me, it was one of my patients who was a 10 -year- old girl. I’ll never forget that day and I still wonder at how much they love me. Even though it was four years back, still people recognise me and convey their love. This motivated me to entertain the patients with music” he said.
The life of Dr. Lahiru was another fascinating story. “My parents were my first music teachers. They are the best examples I have followed since childhood. I still remember how mother used to sing till I fell asleep.
Later on, I started learning music in school from grade 6. Here, I must mention my beloved music teacher Mrs. Nilupa. I fell in love with music and almost every musical instrument. I’m well able to play the organ, harmonium, glockenspiel, traditional drums and violin.
Bob Marley once said, “one good thing about music is, when it hits you, you feel no pain”. The more one gets involved in music, the more we fall in love with music.
Dr. Praboda continues working, and his passion is to release his first music video Maage Wela.
His new aim is to become a Visharada. “The curiosity never ends when it comes to music. I have started studying for the Visharada examination these days. Visharada Mangalika Thennakoon guides me a lot and at the moment she is helping me with my next song while being the music composer. I’m blessed with my mother’s voice; everyone gets surprised with the dual voice I have. It really is God’s gift. If I could use my voice to heal people, that’ll be my only pleasure” he said.
In addition, he revealed that “in Europe music therapy brings the patient’s care to the next level. Currently, this healing process is used by several countries such as USA, UK, India and Australia. Even though it’s not a total cure, it helps in the healing process in a positive way.
Music therapy is under experiment in Sri Lanka, but has not been established as a medical process. We need to educate and train people in music therapy and that could benefit many patients who are paralysed as well as patients with hypertension, heart diseases, mental illnesses and pregnant mothers as well. Music therapy is priceless as it comforts the sick, lifts moods, reduces anxiety, raises motivation and helps combat insomnia and depression. It could also help to recover from traumatic brain injury which has damaged the ability to speak. Music therapy enhances people’s physical, psychological, cognitive and emotional functioning too. Never forget it is a pain relief. To be honest, it improves the quality of life and people who have dementia also find relief from daily stress”.
