Music and Medicine Use of Sound Healing
The Use of Sound Healing with Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Mitchell L. Gaynor MD
This workshop will use the sounds of metal and quartz crystal singing bowls with guided meditation, imagery, and chants, to help you create a harmony within. This harmony allows you to experience inner silence. Silence is not, as commonly believed, the absence of sound. Rather it is like an empty vessel that allows you to behold and connect with your own divine essence, which is the source of healing and well-being. These are the techniques that have benefited thousands of patients over the last 15 years.
Mitchell L. Gaynor M.D. is Founder and President of Gaynor Integrative Oncology (www.drgaynor.com) and Clinical Assistant, Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College, affiliated with Cornell University and New York Hospital. He has held the position of Director of Medical Oncology at The Strang Cancer Prevention Center where he still serves as a consultant. He is also former Medical Director and Director of Medical Oncology at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. He has served on the Executive Review Panel at the Department of Defense – Alternative Medicine for Breast Cancer Sector and the Smithsonian Institute’s Symposium on New Frontier in Breast Cancer and the Environment. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at hospitals, conferences and universities throughout America and abroad. Dr. Gaynor has been consecutively listed in The Best Doctors in New York since 1997 and has served on the Board of Advisors for Healthy Living Magazine, the Sass Medical Foundation, as well as the editorial board of Music and Medicine and Integrative Cancer Therapies. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Texas – Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, he was a clinical fellow in hematology-oncology at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and a post-doctorate fellow in molecular biology at Rockefeller University, New York City. He is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Physicians, and the New York Academy of Sciences.
Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD, was a pioneering oncologist and author who integrated sound healing into the treatment of patients undergoing cancer therapy. His work in this area is a notable example of how complementary therapies can be used alongside conventional medical treatments to provide holistic care to cancer patients. Gaynor believed in the healing power of sound and music and utilized these elements as part of a comprehensive approach to patient care.
Sound Healing in Cancer Treatment
Sound healing involves the use of music, vocalization, and other sound therapies to promote health and well-being. Dr. Gaynor’s approach to sound healing was multifaceted, incorporating singing bowls, chanting, and other sound-based therapies to help reduce stress, alleviate pain, and improve the psychological well-being of his patients. His methods are grounded in the idea that sound vibrations can affect the body’s systems, promoting healing and relaxation.
Theoretical Foundations
The theoretical foundation of Dr. Gaynor’s use of sound healing is based on the concept that everything in the universe, including human cells, vibrates at specific frequencies. Sound healing, in this context, aims to bring these vibrations into a harmonious state, which can help in reducing the symptoms of illness and the side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This concept is also linked to the ancient practice of using music and sound for healing purposes, which can be found in various cultures around the world.
Clinical Application and Research
Dr. Gaynor incorporated sound healing into his clinical practice, offering it as an adjunct to traditional cancer treatments. He reported observing various benefits in his patients, including reduced anxiety and stress, improved sleep patterns, and a greater sense of peace and well-being. Although the empirical research on sound healing’s efficacy in cancer treatment is still evolving, anecdotal evidence and preliminary studies suggest that it may help in improving the quality of life for cancer patients.
Publications and Advocacy
Dr. Gaynor authored several books in which he discussed his integrative approach to cancer treatment, including “The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music” and “Sounds of Healing.” Through his writings and lectures, he aimed to educate both medical professionals and the public about the potential benefits of incorporating sound healing and other integrative therapies into cancer care.
Legacy and Continuing Research
Mitchell L. Gaynor’s work contributed to a broader acceptance of integrative oncology, which combines conventional medical treatments with complementary therapies to address the mind, body, and spirit in cancer care. His legacy continues to inspire ongoing research and clinical practice in the field of sound healing, with more studies being conducted to scientifically evaluate its effects and mechanisms.
Conclusion
Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor’s use of sound healing with patients undergoing cancer treatment represents an innovative and compassionate approach to oncology. By integrating sound therapy into conventional cancer care, he offered patients an additional tool for coping with their diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of addressing the psychological and spiritual aspects of healing alongside the physical.