Some of the psychological applications in which hand drums are being used include assisting veterans to release the emotional pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, releasing the pent-up anger and negative emotions of "at-risk" adolescents, and promoting health in corporate executives through releasing their day-to-day stress, in addition to many other applications.
 
In the medical field, the hand drum is being used to help Alzheimer's patients improve their short-term memory and increase social interaction and to help autistic children increase their attention spans. In some cases, it is not necessarily the hand drum that provides positive changes in an individual, but a rhythmic device such as a metronome or an audiotape that plays specific rhythms. Such tools are being used to aid Parkinson's patients and stroke victims to regain the control of movement or increase their gaits.
 
As a drum facilitator and psychotherapist, I have personally witnessed the power of the drum to relax the tense, energize the tired, and heal the emotionally wounded. I have also observed the hand drum's extraordinary and consistent ability to create states of euphoria, induce light trance, promote play, release anger and promote feelings of community and unity( Robert Friedman, HealthRHYTHM).
 
In the light of the current debate on the alternative medicine versus conventional medicine, I have tried to raise awareness on this matter and hopefully interested parties may make their mind up as to the effectiveness of such therapies. We still feel that more research need to be done in this area as Prince Charles himself is suggesting so that in due course validated ones may be integrated in the mainstream of medicine. Within the fields of orthodox medical therapies a lot still need to be done by way of research into the safety of medicines and certain surgical interventions. Scarce resources should be used properly while at the same time not forgetting that alternative treatment has a role to play in health and well being

 

of service users.
 
 
References
 
Times Online, May 23, 2006 (Full letter: doctors' campaign against alternative therapies).
 
Times Online, May 23, 2006 Prince defiant over alternative medicine after doctors' attack, By Jenny Booth and Mark Henderson
 
The Times, May 23, 2006),Where GPs fail patients, other means succeed,
 
 Dr Thomas Stuttaford.
 
The Times, 24 May, 06. Alternative Thinking, p17.
 
The Times, 24 May, 06), NHS must audit spending on alternative therapy,MPs say, p.7.
 
 Watanabe,N (2006) Healing Intertionality in mind-body medicine,Jnl of Humanistic Psychology, Perspective, February/March 2006, ahp : Almeda,California
 
National Institutes of health (NIH), 2004, Mind-Body medicine: An Overview.
 
Epstein, G (1996) Mind-body medicine & biological medicine: An unbridgeable gap. Advances: J. Mind-body Health 12(3): 16
 
Weisskopf (2004)Attitudes towards and experience with CAM among clinical psychologists in the US. PhD. Diss. CSPP.
 
Cohen,M.H (2003) Complimentary & Integrative medical therapies, the FDA &NIH: Definitions & regulations. Dermato Ther 16(2).
 
Schlitz, M et al (2005)  Consciousness and healing: Integral  approaches to mind-body medicine. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
 
Zahourek,R.P (2004) Intentionality forms the matrix of healing: A theory. Altern Therapy in Health & Medicine 10 (6): 40-49.
 
Potter, J. Reiki Active Research: Science and Healing.http://www.reiki-research.co.uk/refsheal.html
 
Smith (in Watson,2002) Intentionality and caring-healing consciousness: A practice of transpersonal nursing. Hol Nurs Prac 16(4) 12.
 
Wilber,K (2000) Integral psychology. Shambala
 
Reiser, M (2006)  Counselling Today, American Counselling Association twopart article, April/May issue.