Health benefits from playing harmonica

[Jay1]

This is not my field of expertise or experience but there seem to be a number of those on the forum and elsewhere who appear to have had medical/mental health benefits from playing harmonica. Is it is within the forum’s remit to gather sanitized observations regarding medical/mental health experiences from playing harmonica, good or bad and, if there is sufficient evidence, promote harmonica playing for medical/mental health benefits? @Luke Could a short, simple course be developed for those who only want/need health benefits? If it is felt to be within the forum’s remit, how could it be done? I’m not suggesting that it should be done, just tossing a random thought into the air to see if it flies or is shot down. Jay1

[Andy2]

Playing it is good for mental health also good for lung capacity I can definitely testify to that. However my missus keeps saying “will you shut that bloody thing up it’s driving me mental” ---- so perhaps not so much for long suffering spouses

[davidkachalon]

I have a student that gives “Harmonica for Heath” workshops at senior centers and Chicagoland community centers. He has seen (as have I) HUGE benefits in the folks he works with over time. Less COPD symptoms, less wheezing, less coughing, less snoring, better uninterrupted sleep as well as increased lung capacity.

[Jay1]

@Andy2 @davidkachalon Thanks for your input and for starting the ball rolling. I feel a bit guilty opening a new subject post just before going away on a heavy case load but hope to have some thoughts from others on this for when I’m back. I try to keep up with the forum when away, same as I try to find time to play my traveling 10/40 chrom. Jay1

[Luke]

This might be a relevant resource to the discussion?

harmonicaMD

There’s a couple other resources I mentioned in this forum post:

Harmonica is Good for Your Health (Scientifically Proven)

Most of us who’ve been playing harmonica for some time can sense that it’s good for us. For one thing, learning new things in general is good for us, as Albert Einstein said: Once you stop learning, you start dying. And I don’t know about you, but when I play the harmonica, I can tell it’s good for me. I can feel the release of stress and tension as I play. But did you know that the harmonica is scientifically proven to be good for you? Breathing feeds oxygen to the cells throughout your body…

[scott4]

I just got my annual check up and my doc commented on how my lungs sound strong. I say absolutely. father time has taken away my ability to play baseball and softball well and the harp has been a great replacement physically and mentally. The brain is like a muscle in that if used it gets stronger. Same goes for lungs.

[davidkachalon]

So good to hear!

[scott4]

Very well said. I had a very stressful job and without 20 different C Ds to listen to I would have gone crazy. Totally agree about stress reduction when play or converting air to something I can hear. I am nearing 69 and have always believed a person should always keep active, including the brain. Father time has taken many of my favored activities away and the harp has been a god send. I just finished putting 9,500 lbs. of cement on my hillside drive in about 12 different sessions. I did not like it but I try to stay active except in the south Texas summer. This period is where the harp really get a couple of hours a day practice session.

[Jay1]

@Andy2 @scott4 @davidkachalon @Luke Thanks to all who contributed to the harmonica/health thread I started just before going out to the Middle East. I’ve also done some research and it appears to be conclusive that there are proven health benefits both mental and physical) to playing harmonica. My next question is how to promote the concept, any thoughts? Jay 1

[Piglet]

Mental health, absolutly. Granted, mental health benefits of engaging with music are well documented and not instrument specific, but anecdotally in the last year I’ve had a new stressful site manager role and having a harmonica handy for 5-10 minutes has worked wonders on me.

I’ve zero medical knowledge, but in terms of breathing and I’d imagine a number of other ways (coordination, speaking, facial movements etc) I’m sure there are medical situations where it could be a great theropy tool.

[Andy2]

Well I had a check up for my lung recently and apart from a slight bit of asthma the Nurse who examined me says my breath is amazing what are you doing that’s new. The only thing I could think of was I started playing Chrominica a few weeks ago. It takes a lot more breath than diatonic and it’s helped my breathing no end, my wife tells me I very rarely snore at night when asleep now too. That might be down to improved lung capacity. I’m hoping to start swimming too in the new year as part of my fitness programme

[Jay1]

@Andy2 Andy that’s great news, perhaps you should try either a very leaky chrom or a 16/64, both need a lot of breath. Swimming? getting an aqualung? Playing a chrom underwater is taking things a bit far. Jay1

[Andy2]

Undoubtedly