Tue Nov 18 10:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the article, followed by a rewritten version as a news article suitable for wider consumption:
Summary:
A clinical trial conducted in New Delhi, India, investigated the impact of music therapy on patients undergoing minor surgery. The study, published in the journal “Music and Medicine,” found that patients who listened to soothing Hindustani ragas (specifically Raga Yaman and Raga Kirvani) via headphones during gallbladder removal surgery required approximately 15% less anesthesia (propofol), exhibited lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone), needed fewer painkillers, and maintained more stable heart rates and blood pressure compared to a control group. Researchers believe the music helps calm the body’s stress response, releasing endorphins and oxytocin, promoting healing with less reliance on powerful drugs like fentanyl. The study highlights the potential benefits of non-pharmacological approaches like music therapy to reduce the need for potentially dangerous medications and improve patient outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Researchers plan to expand the study to other surgeries and larger groups.
News Article:
Music Therapy Calms Nerves, Reduces Anesthesia Needs During Surgery: Indian Study
CHENNAI, INDIA (November 18, 2025) – A groundbreaking study conducted in New Delhi suggests that listening to calming music during surgery can significantly reduce the need for anesthesia and improve patient well-being. Researchers at Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College found that patients who listened to soothing Hindustani ragas via headphones during gallbladder removal surgery experienced a marked reduction in stress levels and required less medication compared to patients who underwent the procedure in silence.
The study, published in the October 2025 issue of “Music and Medicine,” involved 56 adult patients undergoing gallbladder removal. Half of the patients listened to specially selected ragas, Raga Yaman and Raga Kirvani, known for their calming properties, while the other half wore noise-canceling headphones without music.
“The results were remarkable,” said Tanvi Goel, principal investigator and anaesthesiologist. “The music group not only required approximately 15% less propofol, a common anesthetic, but their stress levels, as measured by cortisol levels, were significantly lower.”
Researchers noted that patients in the music group also needed fewer painkillers and maintained more stable vital signs throughout the procedure. This is particularly significant in light of the ongoing opioid crisis and the risks associated with powerful painkillers like fentanyl, of which even small doses can be fatal.
“It’s non-pharmacological, low-cost, and safe,” explained Farah Husain, co-investigator and certified music therapist. “All it needs is a Bluetooth device and a pair of headphones. There’s no side effect, only potential benefits.”
Experts emphasize that this does not mean patients should be completely isolated from the surgical team, and should still be able to clearly hear what is being said to them.
The Indian research team hopes to expand the study to include a wider range of surgeries and larger patient groups. In a country where healthcare resources can be stretched thin, the potential for music therapy to reduce drug usage, speed recovery, and lower costs is particularly promising. The image of a patient with headphones on in the operating room may soon be less a novelty and more a standard part of patient care.
First Piper 