Music IS medicine!

Music IS medicine: How belting out your favourite tunes (or even just listening) can slash anxiety, beat depression and even supercharge your immune system, reveals major new study

We’ve all been there.

You’ve had one of those days – work stress piling up, the kids screaming, or that nagging low mood that just won’t shift.

You stick on your favourite playlist in the car or shower… and suddenly everything feels a little lighter.

Turns out, it’s not just in your head.

A powerful new scientific review has confirmed what many of us have always suspected: music really can heal both your mind and your body.

The research, published in the respected journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, was carried out by Lavinia Rebecchini, a psychologist at the prestigious King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Her mini-review pulls together dozens of high-quality studies and delivers a clear message: whether it’s listening to relaxing tracks, singing along, or joining a group drumming session, music delivers real, measurable benefits for mental health and immunity.

Why this research is so exciting

The paper shows that music isn’t just “nice to have” – it physically changes your brain and body in ways that rival some medications.

Key findings include:

• Mental health boost: People with anxiety, depression and even schizophrenia saw clear improvements in symptoms after music interventions. Mood lifted, social connections strengthened, and feelings of isolation dropped.

• Mother-baby magic: Singing and music sessions helped new mums bond with their babies and dramatically sped up recovery from postnatal depression.

• Stress-busting science: Music lowers the stress hormone cortisol and other fight-or-flight chemicals (epinephrine and norepinephrine) while raising salivary IgA – your body’s first-line defence against infections.

• Brain on music: Pleasurable songs light up the same reward centres (dopamine and opioid pathways) that fire when you eat chocolate, fall in love or win the lottery.

• Active beats passive: Singing or playing an instrument works even better than just listening. The more you join in, the bigger the payoff.

And the best part? These benefits work across your entire life – from soothing newborns and helping dementia patients feel calmer, right through to easing anxiety in pregnancy and supporting older adults.

Why you should actually care (this one’s personal)

Mental health problems are at epidemic levels. Waiting lists for therapy are months long. Antidepressants come with side effects and many people are desperate for something – anything – that actually helps without costing a fortune.

Music ticks every box:

• It’s completely free (or costs pennies if you stream it).
• Zero side effects.
• You can do it anywhere – in the car, kitchen, gym or even at your desk.
• It works alongside whatever else you’re already doing (therapy, medication, exercise).

Rebecchini’s review makes clear that music offers a genuinely accessible, evidence-backed way to feel better mentally and physically stronger.

Is this research trustworthy?

Absolutely.

This isn’t some clickbait blog or dodgy wellness influencer. It’s a proper scientific mini-review written by a serious researcher at one of the world’s top universities (King’s College London). Lavinia Rebecchini specialises in perinatal mental health and has spent years studying how music helps mothers and babies.

The paper was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and carefully summarises decades of solid studies. It’s open-access too, so doctors and scientists worldwide can read it.

What this actually means for YOU

You don’t need to book expensive music therapy sessions (although those work brilliantly too). Here’s what the science says you can do right now:

Listen for 30 minutes a day – especially relaxing or uplifting music you genuinely love.

 Sing along – in the shower, car, or while cooking. Active participation gives the strongest immune and mood boost.

Join a group – community choirs, drumming circles or even singing with your kids have been shown to reduce depression and build social resilience.

1. Pregnancy or new mum? Put on music daily. It reduces stress and helps you bond with your baby.
2. Feeling low or anxious? Make a “feel-good” playlist and use it when you need a lift.

The author concludes that music should be taken seriously in healthcare – not as a luxury, but as a practical, low-cost addition to treatment.

So next time someone tells you to “just put some music on”, you can smile and reply: “Actually, science now says that’s exactly what I should do.”

Turn up the volume on your wellbeing. Your brain, your mood and even your immune system will thank you.

Have you noticed music changing how you feel? Drop your favourite “mood-fix” song in the comments – we’d love to know!

This article is based on the 2021 mini-review “Music, mental health, and immunity” by Lavinia Rebecchini, published in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health.

Link to original study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8566759/

Disclaimer This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It summarises published scientific research and does not constitute medical advice.

The views expressed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or any mental illness. Music is not a substitute for professional medical care or prescribed treatment.

Always consult your doctor or qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. Individual results may vary.

This content has not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).