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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2023 | Volume
: 11
| Issue : 3 | Page : 219-220 |
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Listening to Raga Ananda Bhairavi raga as a nonpharmacological therapy for the management of postoperative pain
Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy1, Vani Jayaraman2
1 Department of Physiology, Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Pharmacology, Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India
| Date of Submission | 02-Jan-2023 |
| Date of Decision | 15-Jan-2023 |
| Date of Acceptance | 02-Mar-2023 |
| Date of Web Publication | 05-Jul-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy
Department of Physiology, Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/mjhs.mjhs_2_23
How to cite this article:
Kumar Goothy SS, Jayaraman V. Listening to Raga Ananda Bhairavi raga as a nonpharmacological therapy for the management of postoperative pain. MRIMS J Health Sci 2023;11:219-20 |
How to cite this URL:
Kumar Goothy SS, Jayaraman V. Listening to Raga Ananda Bhairavi raga as a nonpharmacological therapy for the management of postoperative pain. MRIMS J Health Sci [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Oct 3];11:219-20. Available from: http://www.mrimsjournal.com/text.asp?2023/11/3/219/380482 |
Dear Editor,
Management of postoperative pain is crucial since if not managed effectively, it will cause chronic pain. Hence, pain management has got pivotal importance during postoperative period.[1] Music has been reported to have multiple beneficial effects on human health. Indian classical music has very noted effects even on nature, as particular raga can bring rain. Similarly, music can influence all the systems of the human body and have healing power. It was reported that the majority of the individuals showed significant alterations in cardiovascular and respiratory functions upon listening to music.[2] It is considered that the human body itself is a musical instrument and each system in the human body can respond to the particular raga.
Raga Ananda Bhairavi is one of the promising ragas of Carnatic music. The analgesic effects of raga Ananda Bhairavi are very well documented. It reduces abdominal pain and reduces blood pressure within normal limits.[3] Studies have reported that there are implications of this raga in the management of postoperative pain. However, the number of participants in the study was less.[2] The belief in the analgesic effects of music might be one of the prime reasons for its effectiveness in the management of pain in postoperative patients. Interestingly, the prescribed music was very effective in pain relief than the patient's self-selection of the music. The possible mechanism for pain relief by music is release of endorphins. Endorphins block the nerve fibers that conduct the pain sensation and thus relieve pain.[4] Another possible mechanism is by altering the levels of catecholamines. Changes in the levels of catecholamines are a well-documented pain relief mechanism.[4] Another possible mechanism is causing distraction, which is the deviation of the person's attention away from pain. Music offers soothing effects, distracts individuals, and relieves pain.
The major drawback of music therapy is lack of adequate scientific evidence. Thorough review of the literature using PubMed as a search engine revealed that only a single study was published wherein Raga Ananda Bhairavi is used as a nonpharmacological therapy in the management of postoperative pain. This study was published in 2014. There is no other study thereafter to support the analgesic effect of Raga Ananda Bhairavi in postoperative pain management. There is a strong need to fulfill this lacuna and conduct clinical trials to support the implication of Raga Ananda Bhairavi in this clinical scenario as a nonpharmacological therapy to manage pain. Hence, we urge clinicians and researchers to start translational studies in this area.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Singh PK, Saikia P, Lahakar M. Prevalence of acute post-operative pain in patients in adult age-group undergoing inpatient abdominal surgery and correlation of intensity of pain and satisfaction with analgesic management: A cross-sectional single institute-based study. Indian J Anaesth 2016;60:737-43.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 2. | Kumar TS, Muthuraman M, Krishnakumar R. Effect of the raga ananda bhairavi in post operative pain relief management. Indian J Surg 2014;76:363-70. |
| 3. | Balaji Deekshitulu PV. Stress reductionthrough listening Indian classical music. Innovare JHSci 2014;2:4. |
| 4. | Holden R, Holden J. Music: A better alternative than pain? Br J Gen Pract 2013;63:536. |
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