The effect of music on the improvement of sleep quality: a report from the viewpoint of Jorjani.

Insomnia is one of the most, if not the most, common complaint in neurology clinics. A review of historical medical manuscripts shows that the use of music in sleep hygiene and the management of sleep disorders has a long history. Jorjani, a prominent Islamic Golden Age physician (1042-1137 AD), suggested using music in sleep hygiene. In his book, the Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi, he recommended listening to slow, pleasant music and natural sounds such as running water. In the chapter on head diseases, Jorjani has introduced different types of insomnia together with neurological and neuropsychological disorders. In treating one type of insomnia, Jorjani has also advised prescribing a piece of music and describing its musical characteristics (including rhythm and mode). He recommended using music-associated relaxation as a non-pharmacological intervention, light exercise, bathing, sleep-inducing foods before bedtime, and appropriate herbal medications to treat insomnia. In this historical article, we presented the prescribing music for the management of insomnia, according to Jorjani's viewpoint.