Sulis has worked in close collaboration with music therapist Dr Leslie Bunt at Bristol Cancer Help Centre. A pilot study conducted at the Centre researching the therapeutic effects of music on patients has been published in "Alternative Therapies" (USA, January 2001). This research project measured the effects of the performance of Celia's music, both on CD ("Chameleon") and in live performance by Sulis. The results show that listeners experienced an increased sense of well-being and relaxation and a significant drop in tension. A physiological test also showed significantly increased levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (which is an indicator of immune status) and decreased levels of cortisol (a stress indicator), marking relaxation and improved mood. Comments from Bristol Cancer Help Centre patients:
- "The power of the music uplifted the spirit"
- "I felt totally at peace"
- "Music to feed the soul and fortify the body"
- "The power of the music to disarm and enter people, to lift up their spirits and make them whole is amazing"
Celia is currently researching, collecting and writing lullabies with a view to working with pregnant women and their unborn babies with lullaby.
Some of Celia's thoughts on the BCHC research, and the healing power of music in general, are set down in this article commissioned by Positive Health Magazine