Decorating For Health - The Role of Art in Healthcare Facilities
The role of art in healthcare facilities goes back at least as so much as the traditional Egyptians. Apparently awake to the actual fact that images of nature induce healing, they painted murals of nature in their healing temples, typically with blue ceilings to represent the sky and inexperienced floors to represent the earth. Likewise, the Greeks embellished their hospitals with stunning paintings furthermore statues of healthy athletes to inspire the ailing. Within the Americas, the Navajo Indians used art in the shape of sand paintings to assist in healing the sick.
In more recent centuries, art in healthcare facilities has been of four varieties: religious, honorary, medical and charitable. Spiritual art has often depicted the glory of heaven and therefore the trials of earth. This kind of art has questionable value for somebody whose assumed goal is to remain on earth. Honorary art depicts donors and has very little or no which means for patients. Medical art originally depicted actual medical procedures as well as surgery and autopsies. For a patient, these pictures were possible to own been distressing, horrifying and even horrifying.
Although the emphasis in the medical field has shifted to patient-focused care, remnants of some of these types of art remain in virtually all healthcare facilities and doctor's offices. Posters donated from pharmaceutical corporations usually suspend on the walls of examination and treatment rooms. These may depict various stages of ear infections or lung diseases and offer data regarding the medications or antibiotics that may be prescribed.
Alternately, posters depicting medical procedures such as the anatomy of knee replacement can still be found in many medical offices. Alternative common pictures in healthcare facilities include anatomical charts of the muscular or skeletal systems.
Fortunately, art depicting medical conditions and anatomy, that don't have any value for healing, are rarely found in patient recovery rooms. The good thing about positive art, usually scenes of nature, has been studied comprehensive by Roger Ulrich, Ph.D. Studies conducted by him and others indicate that "healing art" images have an effect on the autonomic nervous system, hormonal balance, brain neurotransmitters, the immune system and the blood flow to any or all organs within the body. Neurophysiologists have more determined that art connects us to the worlds of images, emotion, visions and feelings. This connection will be crucial in the healing process.
Other hospitals and medical practitioners have tried a variety of innovative approaches to using art for healing. As an example, a dentist's workplace commissioned an artist to make a mural of the underside of a pond on the ceiling in their treatment room. This lighthearted mural included the underside [*fr1] of a duck complete with feet protruding into the room. The mural served to distract and amuse patients throughout dental procedures.
At the University of Maryland, an Enchanted Forest was created for the youngsters's ward. Trunks from monumental trees were used because the theme for an area for youngsters to play, doctors to relax and families to unwind.
For patients who should lie on their backs for in depth medical tests, some hospitals have installed painted or stained glass covers on their overhead lights. The colours chosen are usually cool and relaxing and the photographs are mild, curvilinear patterns similar to ripples on a pond or clouds within the sky.
These projects demonstrate the wonderful role that art and creativity will play in healthcare facilities and in the lives of patients, just once they could need uplifting and inspirational influences the most!
Author Resource:
Edwin Mason has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Healing Art, you can also check out latest website about
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