Jul 10, 2007 6:26 pm US/Pacific
Music Therapy May Help You Get To Sleep
HOUSTON (CBS) ―
It's more than just a bad hair day for Wendy Campbell. She's recording her brain waves. Unable to sleep through the night for five years, the 50-year-old is trying something other than prescription pills or herbal remedies.
"You feel like you're missing out on your life when you have to sleep during the day," Campbell said. "You're supposed to sleep at night when the world is asleep."
An EEG is the first step in a new treatment called brain music therapy.
The data from the EEG are sent to a lab where a special computer program turns the best brain waves into music. It's then recorded onto a CD.
Patients can listen to two tracks of brain music: One to relax and another to increase alertness. Studies show this form of neuro feedback is successful in more than 80 percent of patients.
"They've given people other people's brain music, and they have no response," Dr Carol Kershaw with the Milton H. Erickson Institute said. "They've compared ambien with brain music and they have almost the same effect."
Brain Music therapy costs $550 per recording. Most patients will need two, produced four months apart.
"So far the research shows after the second cycle a person goes through, second recording the brain starts remembering what it's supposed to do to relax," Dr. Bill Wade said.
The hope is the brain will retrain itself and therapy will no longer be needed.
"I know when I get ready for bed I'm going to get a good night's sleep," Campbell said.
All thanks to a little brain music.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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