We've always known that music can soothe the most savage of beasts. But can it cure constipation or give you beautiful skin? This week The Guardian.com reports on an interesting idea the Japan Philharmonic has embarked on---Classical Music as alternative medicine.

 The Japan Pill-harmonic is a project that takes a user-centred design approach to the problem of dwindling audience figures in classical music. The solution? Consumable, neatly-packaged micro SD card "pills" loaded with music ready to cure your ailment or affliction.

Want a better night's sleep? Simply connect the pill to your laptop and feel the benefits.

For this particular project, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra worked with advertising agency BBDO Japan to prescribe different pills to improve various aspects of your health or mind. For beautiful skin, try Vivaldi's Four Seasons; for an enhanced appetite, swallow up Rossini's Barber of Seville; and for constipation issues, relax with Brahms' Symphony No 1: The First Movement. Classical music data was placed in 20 mini 3D cards that look like drug prescription envelopes.

In fact, orchestra members themselves went to pharmacies to provide classical music prescriptions.

The orchestra and I&S BBDO Tokyo are certainly garnering a lot of attention for this project. The project won a Gold Design Lion at Cannes International Festival.