2006年VOA标准英语-Researchers Say Music Helps Reduce Pain

By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
10 August 2006
 
watch Music Relief from Pain

There's an old saying, "music hath charms to soothe¹ the savage² breast."  A new study has revealed that soothing³ musical notes are also an effective medicine.  

Marion Good plays piano for a hobby  
  
Marion Good loves to play the piano.  As a professor of nursing at Case Western Reserve University, Good discovered playing also offers pain relief. "I have for about 15, 20 years, have been testing music with post-operative patients.  I found that music does reduce pain up to about 31 percent in my studies -- in addition to medicines."

 
Jane Suresky listened to music while recoverying from knee surgery 
  
While recovering from knee surgery, Good's colleague Jane Suresky tried a variation -- listening to music.  Suresky says music helped wean her off pain medication. "I had to give it [medicine] up once I got to the pre-operative area and I gladly turned it over because I wanted it when I was finished."

A recent analysis combining 51 clinical studies confirms Good's findings -- patients exposed to music said their pain was less intense, and used lower doses of painkillers⁴.

 
Jane Suresky 
  
Good says music therapy has other benefits, too. "We found that music reduced pain, reduced anxiety, reduced depressive symptoms and reduced pain disability."

Whether playing or listening, it seems music -- like laughter -- is the best medicine.

1 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

2 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

3 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。

4 painkillers   

n.止痛药( painkiller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor gave him some painkillers to ease the pain. 医生给了他一些止疼片以减缓疼痛。 来自辞典例句
• The primary painkillers - opiates, like OxyContin - are widely feared, misunderstood and underused. 人们对主要的镇痛药——如鸦片剂奥施康定——存在广泛的恐惧、误解，因此没有充分利用。 来自时文部分