heART

by Greta Apostoli

Art has been around for thousands of years! There are various forms of art: Dancing, writing, painting, drawing, singing, theatre, and countless more. But have you wondered what impact art has on the human physiological systems? Art is one of many vehicles for healing and reducing symptoms of illness. The arts affect the mind, body, and soul.

Drawing has a profound impact on healing an individual’s spirit. Patients from a study reported having “greater love and compassion and a sense of connectedness to themselves, their bodies, and to what is beyond ourselves. ”3 Patients who have been hospitalized feel disconnected from themselves because their disease becomes their new identity. By giving them an outlet, patients can express themselves and reclaim their identity. Drawing allows them to connect with others and shorten their stay in the hospital. Art has the capacity to increase an individual’s quality of life positively.

Not only does art heal the spirit, but also the mind. Patients undergoing active chemotherapy become depressed and anxious due to the unknown future. A study looked at implementing watercolor painting during patients’ active administration of chemotherapy. Participants were asked to explain their drawings and were later asked to complete the HADS (Hospital and anxiety depression score) questionnaire. Results showed a significant decrease in depression and anxiety scores in all patients.1 In another study called The Pablo Picasso Alzheimer’s Therapy, patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s were taken to a museum to observe paintings. All participants were shown to have increased orientation, mental clarity, and expression.2 Paintings, especially, allow those with dementia to engage fully with others while lessening negative tension by creating new positive tension in the brain. Art helps manage dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Figurative art helps decrease systolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension. A randomized controlled study looked at three groups who observed figurative art, modern art, and art located in office museums. Figurative art significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared to the other two groups. Blood pressure levels measured before the start of the visit were 116mm Hg, and after the visit, it decreased to 108.7 mmHg for the people in the figurative art group. Modern art reduced systolic blood pressure from 115.9 to 112.17mmHg, and the art in office museums decreased it from 119.8 to 114.9 mmHg.4 Figurative art has a restorative effect on a person’s well-being. Heart rate levels also decreased in all three groups but were not statistically significant. Although figurative art reduces blood pressure, patients should not consider art therapy to replace their blood pressure medication but instead use it in conjunction with their medications.

Art is a powerful vehicle for healing because it affects the mind, body, and soul. Art can heal a broken heart by enabling individuals to release negative emotions, become connected with their inner-self and God, and help manage their diseases. Art creates new neuronal connections leading to positive effects on an individual, elevating them to an improved state of well-being. Art gives patients their voice and allows them to take back their identity, which succumbs during their disease state of being. Art should be used by everyone, not just in the in-patient setting. Next time you ’re feeling down or stressed out, let the heART heal you.