Music therapy has a long tradition in the Orient as a core component of the Islamic arts of healing from the 9th century onwards. It was used by scholars such as Kindi, Razi and Ibn Sina and was routinely used as a treatment in hospitals from this period.
It was thought that the features of Oriental music had specific effects on various organs of the body and on the “humours” – the four substances that were believed by ancient medicine to preside over the body. Also, a component of Islamic theology held that music could nurture the “spirit soul”.
The practice died out by the 19th century, when modern medicine did away with the theory of “humours”. But Oriental music therapy was revived during the 1980s in Turkey and its potential is being explored by Western practitioners of music therapy.
The practice died out by the 19th century, when modern medicine did away with the theory of “humours”. But Oriental music therapy was revived during the 1980s in Turkey and its potential is being explored by Western practitioners of music therapy.
