Already normal labor is accompanied by great physical and emotional stress. This is even more the case when complications come up as with these women with an initial inactivity of the uterus.
To find out in how far Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® has a harmonizing effect on neuroendocrine functions important opioids for adaptation and stress were chosen for investigation:

• beta-endorphin
• corticotropin (ACTH) and
• cortisol

– hormones which show extremely high levels in blood during labor and which are typical for stress conditions.

Under investigation were three groups:
one group of 11 women was treated with relaxing Medical Resonance Therapy Music^®, a control group A of 11 women listened to music of Mozart – Symphony No. 28 and Coronation Mass – and a control group B of 11 women did not listen to any music at all.

The treatment with the Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® resulted in a significant change of the hormonal situation:
the beta-endorphin value dropped by 6.05 units and also ACTH showed a tendency to decrease – the hyperproductive hormone system was calmed, hormonal manifestations of stress reduced and a more balanced state established.

Here too a significant change was found in the hormonal situation, but in the opposite direction: the ACTH level increased – the already hyperactive hormone system got even more exaggerated, hormonal manifestations of stress increased.

Control Group B without Music

Here no significant changes were observed, only small variations.

Comments to Cortisol

A significant change of cortisol was neither found in the “Mozart group” nor in the Medical Resonance Therapy Music^® group. To get a reliable picture of the changes in cortisol level probably a longer than 30 minute treatment interval is necessary, since its duration is comparable with half the life span of the hormone in circulation.