The Healing Power of Blue and Music: Enjoying the Autumn of Appetite, Reading, and Art

"Tips for improving sleep quality in autumn"

We will share various topics related to art, such as music and color, and our mind and body.

Mental and physical health leads to good quality sleep. Learn about art and health and use it to improve your sleep.

 

1. Various shades of blue (Azzurro) ~ From sports to medicine and cosmetics

◆Origin of the soccer team's name

First, a quiz.
When you hear "Azzurro", what comes to mind?
Here's a hint: it's a blue color and it's related to sports.
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One possible answer is "Azzurri", the nickname for the Italian national soccer team, who wear blue uniforms.
Azzurri is the plural of azzurro (blue).

 

◆Blue (Azul) used in gargles, medicine, and cosmetics

Furthermore, "azul" is also related to medicine.

In blood tests, there are azurophilic granules in white blood cells that stain blue to reddish-purple.

Recently, integrative medicine has been attracting attention, and

music therapy and aromatherapy are widely accepted.

When herbs like chamomile are heat-distilled, a blue essential oil is obtained, and this component is azulene (azul = blue, Spanish).

Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties have been known for a long time and it has been used as a folk remedy.

Regarding blue azulene, Azulene gargle is well-known.

For stomach medicine, since Azulene acts on Margen (stomach, German), it was named Marzulene.

Side effects are rare, and it is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, and bath additives that reduce skin inflammation.

 

 

2. The healing power of indigo

◆Herbs that ward off illness ~ "Indigo" with disinfectant, antipyretic, and insecticidal effects

Here's another quiz.

What is a blue-indigo plant-derived substance that is effective as both medicine and disinfectant, and also has economic power?

The hint is Tokushima Prefecture, where the author was born and raised.

The answer is "indigo".

 

Tokushima is known as a production area for indigo, and from the Edo period to the early Meiji period, indigo became widely popular throughout Japan, and Tokushima is said to have boasted one of the top 10 economies in the country.

Indigo is a medicinal herb with sterilizing, detoxifying, and antipyretic effects, and dyed clothing protects against skin diseases and poisonous insects.

For this reason, it was even said that "indigo craftsmen are free from illness."

 

◆"Indigo" used in the names of sports teams

 

Currently, the "Tokushima Indigo Socks" are active in the Shikoku Island League plus, an independent professional baseball league.

Regarding soccer, the first J1 club in Shikoku is "Tokushima Vortis".

The team name "Vortis" comes from the Italian word for whirlpool, "Vortice", and the English word "vortex".

It is supported by Otsuka Pharmaceutical, a global pharmaceutical company.

 

 

3. The power of music to comfort a troubled heart

◆The "principle of isopraxis" in music ~ Resonating with and healing the state of the mind ~

Finally, a topic about music.

People have emotions, feelings, and sensibilities.
Everyone can get down sometimes due to various stresses.

It becomes a problem if it continues for a long time and leads to a "depressed state".
In such cases, it is good to listen to music with a similar tone to your state of mind, aligning and resonating with it.
This is called the "principle of isopraxis".

When you feel down and gloomy, what color do you imagine?
Perhaps blue, as in a "blue mood".
It might be dark brown, or black, or gray.
But it probably wouldn't be red, pink, or orange.

 

◆The healing power of "sad melodies" in folk music from various countries

As folk music from various countries,
Japan has enka, France has chansons, and North and South America have jazz and blues.
All of these have the effect of comforting, harmonizing with, and healing the sadness and suffering that humans feel.
The characteristic of blues is that in the C major scale, the notes E, G, and B are flattened by a semitone.
This subtle minor (minor key) melody is an important point.

◆Incorporate the power of music into your daily life for good health

Calming and healing the mind with music can be considered treatment using the power of music.

Just like "free-flowing hot springs," we want to treat our minds with music that warmly affects them every day.

In English, this would be "Sound treatment every day."

 

 

Finally, we introduce healing music & videos perfect for autumn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tap the image to listen on YouTube.
For other streaming services, click here.

 

This work includes 10 songs such as "01. Peaceful Breathing," "02. Into the World of the Mind," and "03. Scenery Seen with Closed Eyes." Please choose the song that suits your feelings and use it for mindfulness meditation to heal your mind and body.

 

 

 

Hiroshi Bando 

Doctor of Medicine
Branch Manager for Shikoku, Japan Society of Integrative Medicine

Representative, Tokushima Carbohydrate Restriction Study Group
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Graduated from Tokushima University, obtained ECFMG certification, and completed clinical training in family medicine in the United States. His areas of expertise include anti-aging, carbohydrate restriction, music therapy, and sports medicine. Participated in the National Sports Festival as an ice skater (1999-2003). Chairperson of the 9th Japan Music Therapy Association Conference (2009). Silver medalist at the 3rd European International Piano Competition (EIPIC) in Japan (2012). Chairperson of the Japan Primary Care Association Conference (2017, Takamatsu).
Editor-in-Chief of four English medical journals related to diabetes (2024). Author of over 30 books, over 2,000 publications, and over 500 English papers. Representative of "Shinro-jin no Kai" (New Elders Association) Tokushima.
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Official website: https://pianomed.org/