The Use of Music in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Five Element Theory Used to Match Musical Tones to Enhance Healing

Feb 26, 2009
Dawn M. Smith

Chinese Medicine Uses Music to Enhance Health - PhotoJock

Music therapy is a recognized tool in modern medicine but few are aware that it had its origins in Traditional Chinese Medicine where it was the first form of health care

TCM patterns have been used in early times to select music which aid in bringing the body back into balance. This aspect of Chinese medicine is being rediscovered as interest in the role that sound plays in health increases.

The Origins of Music in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Before the use of herbs or acupuncture, before the development of tai chi and qi gung as meditation-based exercise for health, the Chinese used musical compositions to heal. In fact, the Chinese word for medicine (yao) is derived from the word for music (yue).

Once it was learned that herbs could be used to treat disease, the character for herb was added to the character for music and that combination is now the word for medicine in the Chinese language.

Modern Medicine Recognizes the Value of Music in Promoting Healing

The link between music and health has been accepted by the medical profession, particularly when it comes to treating mental health problems. For example, music has also been proven to aid in post surgical pain reduction. The health care field is also looking into the negative effects of listening to various types of music.

The Link Between Musical Tones and The Organs

The Five Element Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes a link between specific tones and the five elements, each of which is also linked to a specific organ.

The Five Tones:

The Shang Tone - linked to the Lungs and the Metal Element. This tone is heavy and unbending. One is said to become friendly and honest from listening to shang music.
The Chueh Tone – linked to the Liver and the Wood Element. This tone is bright and renewing. Listening to chueh based music is thought to encourage kindness.
The Chih Tone – linked to the Heart and the Fire Element. This tone is energetic and emotional and believed to encourage generosity.
The Kung Tone – linked to the Spleen and the Earth Element. This noble tone is thought to encourage tolerance.
The Yue Tone – linked to the Kidneys and the Water Element. This tone is melancholy and placid, encouraging contentedness.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner uses his/her assessment to recommend music that will help return the patient to a more balanced, healthy state. The practitioner can also offer advice on sounds or tones that may aggravate the individual’s condition which should be avoided during the healing process.

From there, once the patient is back in balance the TCM practitioner can advise on the use of music for maintaining health based on the individual’s underlying constitution.