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Essay: The Healing Power of Nature

October 15, 2019 October 30, 2019

While waiting for a hike to begin during Earth Week last spring at Kehl Lake, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I saw it was a close friend of mine, a college roommate, who dislikes talking on the phone, and almost never calls. I picked up.

My friend could hardly speak but managed to get the words out that her daughter, 28, had died that morning of a drug overdose. She had just heard the news. It was a call that I had somehow always expected I might get, and yet it nearly took me to my knees.

Her daughter had struggled with addiction mightily for 12 years. She was bright, beautiful, married and a mother to an adorable three-year-old. This was a girl who my own two sons thought of as a cousin. She loved Leelanau and came up every summer with her mom and younger brother, to stay with us for a week. I can still see her jumping off our raft, or surfing the waves at Van’s Beach, or toasting marshmallows by firelight, her long dark hair pulled back.

But tragically, as in so many cases across our nation, her drug addiction trumped everything. We went downstate to be with my friend and to attend the funeral.  In the days that followed, I felt alternately numb and perpetually on the verge of tears, sad for my friend and incredulous at her unimaginable loss.

I came back to work later that week and our staff carpooled out to tour the new Cedar River Preserve addition. Our Board had just taken the leap of faith to buy this incredible 80 acres that could have easily become a ridgetop development, with its sweeping views of Lake Leelanau.

It was a cool and overcast May afternoon as we trekked up and along the ridgeline. The trees were still stark and bare. But the bright green of spring ephemerals on the hillside took my breath away, contrasting beautifully against the darkness of a forest floor rich with leaf litter. Iridescent moss and patterned lichen fanned out on decaying logs. We heard a cacophony of birdsong and looked down on a kettle hole lake, formed by the glaciers.

For the first time in weeks, I felt something ease in me. Seeing all of the new life after such a long, brutal winter felt hopeful. The ancientness of the kettle hole, the girth of old-growth trees, even the skeleton of what appeared to be a deer gave me a kind of peace and perspective that only nature can provide.  Life and death are intertwined so beautifully and naturally in the out of doors. It gave me comfort to be reminded that each of us is just a small speck in time, whirling through a very big universe. Somehow, it felt easier to accept the death of my friend’s daughter.

I couldn’t be more grateful that the Leelanau Conservancy has protected places like the Cedar River Preserve to hike in, to heal in, and to offer peace and perspective. My friend plans to come up this fall. We won’t visit the new preserve as it is not yet open to the public. But we will go to Clay Cliffs, to the dunes, and to Lake Michigan, remembering the little girl who once played along those shores.—– Carolyn Faught, Senior Writer and Donor Loyalty Specialist for the Leelanau Conservanc y

email Carolyn: [email protected]

Cedar River Preserve, What’s Next?

Please Note: The new Cedar River Preserve 80-acre addition is not yet open to the public. As has been our practice with all natural areas, access is provided as soon as we can develop a management plan for the property that best preserves the land’s ecological resources and create safe, well-marked trails. Stay tuned for more information as plans unfold.

Become a steward of the land.

Help us preserve the wonders of Leelanau County by becoming a trail steward, volunteering at a workbee, or donating funds.

The Healing Power of Nature

I t sounded more like a lark than a scientific study when a handful of Japanese researchers set out to discover whether something special–and clinically therapeutic–happens when people spend time in nature. They were inspired by a new recommendation from the Forest Agency of Japan, which in the early 1980s began advising people to take strolls in the woods for better health. The practice was called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, and it was believed to lower stress–but that hadn’t been proved. Since then, a large body of evidence has shown that spending time in nature is responsible for many measurable beneficial changes in the body.

In one early study, Yoshifumi Miyazaki, a forest-therapy expert and researcher at Chiba University in Japan, found that people who spent 40 minutes walking in a cedar forest had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is involved in blood pressure and immune-system function, compared with when they spent 40 minutes walking in a lab. “I was surprised,” Miyazaki recalls. “Spending time in the forest induces a state of physiologic relaxation.”

Another researcher, Dr. Qing Li, a professor at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, found that trees and plants emit aromatic compounds called phytoncides that, when inhaled, can spur healthy biological changes in a manner similar to aromatherapy, which has also been studied for its therapeutic benefits. In his studies, Li has shown that when people walk through or stay overnight in forests, they often exhibit changes in the blood that are associated with protection against cancer, better immunity and lower blood pressure.

Recent studies have also linked nature to symptom relief for health issues like heart disease, depression, cancer, anxiety and attention disorders.

“The quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, good smells and fresh, clean air in forests all contribute to the effects,” says Li.

1 IT CAN LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Spending time outside is good for the heart, research shows, and since high blood pressure costs the U.S. approximately $48.6 billion per year and affects 1 in 3 Americans, visiting green spaces may be a simple and affordable way to improve heart health. A large June 2016 study found that nearly 10% of people with high blood pressure could get their hypertension under control if they spent just 30 minutes or more in a park each week. “If everyone were to make time for nature, the savings on health care costs could be incredible,” says study author Danielle Shanahan, a research fellow at the University of Queensland in Australia.

The fresh air could be one factor, since air pollution has been linked to a higher risk for heart attacks, but since the study participants lived in cities (and therefore were also being exposed to air pollution), that likely isn’t the only driver. Scientists think stress reduction also plays a part. “Nature is undemanding,” says Shanahan. “It requires effortless attention to look at the leaves of a tree, unlike the constant emails at work or the chores at home.”

Trees’ natural fragrance may also play a role, as some studies have shown that phytoncides lower blood pressure by quelling the body’s fight-or-flight response, which stresses the body.

2 EXPOSURE TO IT CAN INCREASE AWE

Looking at a stunning waterfall or undulating countryside can do more than enrich your Instagram feed: it can also elicit feelings of awe that bring a number of health benefits. In a 2015 study, researcher Paul Piff of the University of California, Irvine, found that people who spent 60 seconds looking up at towering trees were more likely to report feeling awe, after which they were more likely to help a stranger than people who looked at an equally tall–but far less awe-inspiring–building.

“Experiences of awe attune people to things larger than themselves,” says Piff. “They cause individuals to feel less entitled, less selfish, and to behave in more generous and helping ways.” The benefits of awe are physical too: regularly experiencing moments of awe has been linked to lower levels of inflammatory compounds in the body.

Everyday interactions with nature can also benefit. An April 2016 study of 44 cities found that urban areas with more parks scored higher on measures of community well-being. That’s likely because parks give people opportunities to socialize and be active with their neighbors, which could improve health, the researchers say. People in cities with lots of green space were more likely to report having more energy, good health and a sense of purpose too.

3 IT PROMOTES CANCER-FIGHTING CELLS

An April 2016 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reported that women living in areas with a lot of vegetation had a 12% lower risk of death from all causes compared with people in the least green places. That could be thanks to cleaner air, but nature may also offer its own medicine. Li’s research at Nippon Medical School shows that when people walk through a forest, they inhale phytoncides that increase their number of natural killer (NK) cells–a type of white blood cell that supports the immune system and is associated with a lower risk of cancer. NK cells are also thought to have a role in combating infections and autoimmune disorders and tamping down inflammation, which contributes to a wide range of ailments, including heart disease and diabetes.

In a 2010 study, researchers found that people who took two long walks through forests on consecutive days increased their NK cells by 50% and the activity of these cells by 56%. Those activity levels remained 23% higher than usual for the month following the walks. In another study, Li and his co-authors found that infusing people’s hotel rooms with phytoncides had some of the same anti-cancer-cell effects as those seen among people walking through forests.

4 IT CAN HELP WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Not surprisingly, urban dwellers are far more likely to have anxiety and mood disorders than people who live in rural areas. That’s the bad news, since about 80% of Americans live in cities. The good news is that a small 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural setting, such as a forest or a nature park, were less likely to ruminate–a hallmark of depression and anxiety–and had lower activity in an area of the brain linked to depression than people who walked in an urban area. “Accessible natural areas may be vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world,” the study authors write.

The exact mechanism of how nature helps mood disorders is unclear, but researchers agree that at the very least, time in nature tends to lift spirits. “When you have a short blast of nature exposure, people’s moods go up,” says Ming Kuo, an environment and behavior scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Another possibility is that the air near moving water, forests and mountains contains high levels of negative ions, which are thought to potentially reduce depression symptoms, according to a study in Frontiers in Psychology.

5 IT MAY HELP WITH ADHD SYMPTOMS

Small studies in kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have suggested that nature walks could be a potential natural treatment to improve attention. In one study, a team led by Kuo of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had kids with ADHD take three 20-minute walks, without their medication, in different locations: a park, a neighborhood and an urban area. When the researchers tested the children afterward, they found that after a park walk, the kids were able to concentrate substantially better than after a walk in the other settings. In a separate 2011 study, Kuo and her colleagues found that children who regularly played in outdoor areas had milder ADHD symptoms, according to their parents, than children who played indoors or in areas with less nature access. “Nature gives the part of the brain that’s used in effortful concentration a rest,” says Kuo. “If you spend time doing something mentally relaxing, you feel rejuvenated.”

People without ADHD symptoms can also improve their attention and concentration by interacting with nature, evidence suggests. One University of Michigan study found that people improved their short-term memory by 20% after a nature walk but had no changes after walking through city streets.

6 EVEN FAKE NATURE HAS BENEFITS

Before you start planning your escape to the countryside, consider this: “There is plenty of evidence that you will get a range of benefits even if all you can manage is putting a plant in your room or looking at trees through your window at home,” says the University of Queensland’s Shanahan.

Research shows that even if they’re artificial, the images, sounds and smells of nature can have positive health effects. Listening to nature sounds over headphones, for instance, has been shown to help people recover faster from stress–which might explain why so many spas employ nature sounds in their treatment rooms.

Several studies have also shown that having a window view can improve attention, reduce stress and even help people in hospitals heal after operations. One widely cited study of people recovering from abdominal surgery found that those with tree-lined views were released faster from the hospital, experienced fewer complications and required less pain medication than people whose rooms faced a brick wall.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

How Nature Helps Us Heal

Here’s one silver lining to the pandemic: with gyms, museums, and stores closed, many of us were forced to spend more time outside. I was able to ditch my car and more safely pedal the 3.5 miles on pedestrian-friendly streets to work at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, where I work practicing hospital medicine.

One morning last spring, I was reflecting on how good the ride outside made me feel when I walked in to see a 68-year-old patient with several significant behavioral and medical problems.

Before I could say a thing, he jumped in as if in mid-conversation. “Dr. Hass, I can’t thank you enough. I swear that prescription you gave me mid-COVID lockdown saved my life!” 

Nodding, I tried to hide the fact I didn’t recognize him; I assumed he was talking about an antibiotic or some other medicine. 

“I was so depressed and isolated,” he said. “You gave me a prescription to ride my bike to the marina and watch the sunset. I have been watching that sunset almost every day until I got sick last week. And the prescription is still on the fridge! I can’t thank you enough!”

That rang a bell. I have been giving out old-school paper prescriptions for about two years now, where I prescribe non-pharmaceutical steps that have been proven to make people healthier. Apparently, I had given him one to get outside and take in the natural beauty of the sunset.

“Thank you, Mr. T.,” I said. “That means a lot to me, and your feedback really helps!”

I had heard that nature can make people happier and healthier, but, embarrassingly, I envisioned it for more “outdoorsy” people like me, whatever that means. Also, I assumed it would offer just a slight bump in the happiness quotient.

Mr. T. had shown me that I had underestimated both the impact of getting outside and who could be helped. As a result, I became determined to dig a little deeper to understand the health benefits so I could do more with these prescriptions.

Nature is good for us

Luminaries like Charles Darwin, Henry David Thoreau, Virginia Woolf, and Albert Einstein have written eloquently about the benefits of taking in the natural world. Frederick Law Olmsted, the 19th century architect of many great American parks, captured the experience well:

Nature employs the mind without fatigue and yet enlivens it. Tranquilizes it and enlivens it. And thus, through the influences of the mind over body, gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system.

It took almost 150 years, but science has verified that statement almost word for word, including by researchers associated with the Greater Good Science Center. While much of the research has been done in the U.S., Japan is where the science has been most readily embraced. Starting with research on blood pressure and stress hormone levels in the early 2000s, there is now a medical specialty in forest bathing—an activity in which more than a quarter of Japanese partake. There are nearly 100 officially sanctioned forest baths where the benefits have been demonstrated, with guides to help visitors get the most from their time. In Japan, the director of the ministry of forestry is a social scientist, not a botanist, which hints at the country’s commitment to health-through-nature. Trees are seen more as a mental health resource than one that can be extracted for profit.

What are the benefits? According to research : lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress; improved mood and immune function; better sleep; and increased creativity. There are surprising social benefits, too. During early forest bathing experiments, physician Qing Li found that after a couple hours in the woods, blood pressure went down an average of five points. The effects didn’t end once people left the trees; stress hormones were measurably lower for a week. After three days with two hours of forest bathing, markers of immune health showed improvement that lasted a week. And, of course, almost all the people said they just felt better, too!

We are primarily visual creatures, so it is not surprising that simply looking at beautiful natural scenes makes us feel good. A heart surgeon at Vanderbilt suspected it did more than that. Looking at it closely, he found that his patients whose hospital room faced the forest healed faster than those who faced the parking garage. I never knew why hospitals are full of nature scenes until I researched for this project. Strange that this bit of data reached the architects, but not the doctors! 
 Nature is, of course, an all-senses experience. It’s not just about looking at the trees—you can smell them, too, and hear the wind in their branches, and touch their bark. Li’s group found that when people slept overnight breathing in essential oil from the Japanese cedar tree, they reported better sleep and had lower stress hormone levels. Since then, researchers at Vanderbilt have demonstrated nurses report less stress if this same oil is infused in their hospital workplace.

Sound researcher Joshua Smyth at Penn State has found that when people listen to songbirds, the tension in their nervous systems falls, as measured by heart rate variability; but tension increases with the rumble of cars and roar of airplanes. Researchers with the Nation Park Service found their parks “look” worse when people hear human-made sounds. That kind of urban noise can be more than an irritant: Research in Bonn, Germany, found that kids at schools subject to a lot of airplane noise have a tougher time learning than those in schools across town.

Why nature is good for us

So, why is the natural world good for us?

The biophilia theory suggested that since we evolved in nature, our senses and body rhythms are best suited for that environment. According to biologist E. O. Wilson, there is an “innate emotional affiliation with other living organisms” that makes us calm and comfortable in nature. The sounds, smells, sights are our evolutionary “happy place” where we can rest and rejuvenate. We are deeply tied to a world from where we have strayed. Despite the comforts and safety of the modern world, there is a price to pay for urban living.

Other scientists espouse something called the attention restoration theory. Rachel Kaplan at the University of Michigan says “soft fascination” with the beauty and mystery of the natural world draws us in. Nature, she says, is “enticing but not demanding.” Neuroscience research by her student Stephen Kaplan shows that looking at nature pictures let the hard-working executive function parts of the brain recover, compared to looking at urban landscapes.

Emotion scientists like the GGCS’s own Dacher Keltner believe there is something else going on as well: awe . 

That’s the feeling we get from encountering something vast and wondrous, that challenges our comprehension. In an awed state, our jaw drops and we get goosebumps. But more than that, we have the same physiological effects we see in forest bathing, where heart rate and blood pressure drop. Beyond the physiological, there are prosocial effects to awe: less concern for self, increased generosity, and more cooperation. This might be why research suggests there is less violence when trees are incorporated into low-income housing developments.

What a prescription looks like

Researchers from Finland suggest that five hours a month is the minimum to have lasting effects (though you should leave the technology behind, or at least keep it in your pocket). It doesn’t have to be the forest; water, even urban parks, can be healing, too. 

For those with the resources, I prescribe breaks to a quiet cabin or tent for at least three days, once or twice a year. I also recommend house plants for home and office, microbreaks where you stop work to look out the window, or a couple short walks even if it is in an urban environment. If all else fails, there are always nature videos , which have been shown to have positive effects. A walk with a friend outside is a Greater Good “three-fer”: exercise, friendship, and nature all at once.

A way to lift yourself out of the mundane

Access to the natural world is far from equitably distributed. While green space is foundational in public health and urban planning, my country, the United States, is far behind Japan, Korea, Singapore, and many European countries in efforts to integrate this idea into our society.

I see the effects of this lack of access every day. Last week, I was taking care of Ms. S., a 58-year-old woman with mental health and mobility issues complicated by poor social support. She came to the hospital with abdominal pain. Sitting down and talking to her, I could see her mood and isolation were her biggest issues.

Notes in her medical record recommended psychiatric care and medications, but I started with a different approach.

“What brings you joy, Ms. S.?”, I asked.

“Well, I loved my flower boxes I had outside my apartment,” she said. “I planted herbs and flowers. Tending the plants made me feel good, but the manager said it was a fire hazard and I have hardly been outside since they hauled them away.”

Her comments are in line with data on the benefits of touch—hands or feet in the dirt—and well-being. There is also a large body of research on the positive social and health benefits of gardening. Before she went home, our team gave her resources about community gardens, and I gave a prescription to bus to Redwood Park and the lake. While that felt insufficient, at least she felt buoyed by the idea that our health care team felt her garden was as important to her health as she did.

This is a lesson we all should learn from Ms. S.: Don’t underestimate the benefits of engaging with nature. Even if governments and institutions in the U.S. don’t get it yet, individuals can make a difference. Through efforts of hard-working citizens, vets can get outdoor therapy for PTSD . The SHINE program in the Bay Area is one of several park-health care collaboratives that get kids out of their city lives and into nature once a week. We should all be inspired by these efforts and find ways to advocate for green access as best we can.

Coming out of this long public health crisis, we should cherish all the good we can. I have tried to make this cognitive shift: Every episode outside is an opportunity to access the healing power of nature. I try to see each tree as an incredible living being and forests, the shoreline, and even my neighborhood park as sacred sites for communing with the wondrous natural world and restoring my body and mind. When I watch the sun set, I think of what it did for Mr. T.

About the Author

Leif Hass, M.D. , is a family medicine doctor and hospitalist at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. He serves as a Joy of Work Champion for Sutter Health and as a clinical instructor with UCSF.

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The healing power of nature

Intentionally incorporate nature as medicine into your routine.

Event Information (passed)

Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 93% of their time indoors? This is concerning because spending time in nature has been shown to have many health benefits. Being in nature can help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, enhance immune system function and boost self-esteem and mood.

The science of the healing power of nature

Photo/Annie Ryan Photography

There are numerous studies that support the healing power of nature. A  study  of 20,000 people found that those who spend at least 120 minutes per week in nature, whether in a local park or other natural environment, were more likely to report better health and well-being. 

The World Health Organization recently released a report called  Green and Blue Spaces and Mental Health , which shows that time in nature, including urban areas, improves moods, mindsets and mental health. Furthermore, research suggests that exposure to forests, parks, gardens or coastlines can help mitigate the psychological impact of climate change, promote physical activity and provide opportunities for social interaction.

Prioritizing your wellness by spending time in nature promotes physical activity, engages your senses, encourages social interaction and enhances well-being — all key elements of keeping you healthy. Harnessing the healing power of nature is within your reach: simply step outside and reap its benefits.

Mladen Golubic, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Osher Center for Integrative Health

Incorporating nature into your routine

Intentionally incorporating nature into your day will help you reap the benefits, and it doesn't have to be complicated.  According to Mladen Golubic, MD, PhD, medical director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health, "prioritizing your wellness by spending time in nature promotes physical activity, engages your senses, encourages social interaction, and enhances well-being — all key elements of keeping you healthy." He emphasizes that "harnessing the healing power of nature is within your reach: simply step outside and reap its benefits.” 

Here are seven simple tips for incorporating nature into your routine:

Yoga in nature will be one of the experientials provided at an Evening of Wellness in Nature at Ault Park/Photo/provided

• Schedule regular "nature breaks" throughout your day, even for 10 minutes at a time.
• Bring greenery or images of natural spaces into your home and office, both of which have been shown to lower stress according to  studies .
• Try “green exercise” — moving your workout outdoors provides benefits. A recent  study  found that a short, leafy stroll improves working memory and concentration substantially more than completing the same brief walk inside.
• Turn a regular meeting into a walking meeting outdoors.
• Eat a meal outside in nature (turn any meal into a fun picnic).
• Try a  no-cost Cincinnati Parks Foundation wellness program  such as yoga, forest bathing or meditation.
• Join the Osher Center for Integrative Health and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation for  An Evening of Wellness in Nature at Ault Park  4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7. This evening wellness retreat combines physical activity, social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight to help you harness the healing power of nature and invest in your well-being through a range of experiential sessions led by Osher Center practitioners including yoga, tai chi, mindful walking, and sound immersion.  Register Now: An Evening of Wellness in Nature at Ault Park .

The Osher Center for Integrative Health is changing health outcomes in Cincinnati

Empowering patients to take control of their health through preventative, integrative therapies at UC Health, training students and healthcare professionals at the UC College of Medicine, and engaging the community through lifestyle medicine and integrative health programs and events.  Learn more about the Osher Center for Integrative Health.

Featured image at top: Annie Ryan Photography

• College of Medicine
• Integrative Medicine

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Nature As A Healer

Nature Essay for Students and Children

500+ words nature essay.

Nature is an important and integral part of mankind. It is one of the greatest blessings for human life; however, nowadays humans fail to recognize it as one. Nature has been an inspiration for numerous poets, writers, artists and more of yesteryears. This remarkable creation inspired them to write poems and stories in the glory of it. They truly valued nature which reflects in their works even today. Essentially, nature is everything we are surrounded by like the water we drink, the air we breathe, the sun we soak in, the birds we hear chirping, the moon we gaze at and more. Above all, it is rich and vibrant and consists of both living and non-living things. Therefore, people of the modern age should also learn something from people of yesteryear and start valuing nature before it gets too late.

Significance of Nature

Nature has been in existence long before humans and ever since it has taken care of mankind and nourished it forever. In other words, it offers us a protective layer which guards us against all kinds of damages and harms. Survival of mankind without nature is impossible and humans need to understand that.

If nature has the ability to protect us, it is also powerful enough to destroy the entire mankind. Every form of nature, for instance, the plants , animals , rivers, mountains, moon, and more holds equal significance for us. Absence of one element is enough to cause a catastrophe in the functioning of human life.

We fulfill our healthy lifestyle by eating and drinking healthy, which nature gives us. Similarly, it provides us with water and food that enables us to do so. Rainfall and sunshine, the two most important elements to survive are derived from nature itself.

Further, the air we breathe and the wood we use for various purposes are a gift of nature only. But, with technological advancements, people are not paying attention to nature. The need to conserve and balance the natural assets is rising day by day which requires immediate attention.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conservation of Nature

In order to conserve nature, we must take drastic steps right away to prevent any further damage. The most important step is to prevent deforestation at all levels. Cutting down of trees has serious consequences in different spheres. It can cause soil erosion easily and also bring a decline in rainfall on a major level.

Polluting ocean water must be strictly prohibited by all industries straightaway as it causes a lot of water shortage. The excessive use of automobiles, AC’s and ovens emit a lot of Chlorofluorocarbons’ which depletes the ozone layer. This, in turn, causes global warming which causes thermal expansion and melting of glaciers.

Therefore, we should avoid personal use of the vehicle when we can, switch to public transport and carpooling. We must invest in solar energy giving a chance for the natural resources to replenish.

In conclusion, nature has a powerful transformative power which is responsible for the functioning of life on earth. It is essential for mankind to flourish so it is our duty to conserve it for our future generations. We must stop the selfish activities and try our best to preserve the natural resources so life can forever be nourished on earth.

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Environment

The healing power of nature, why you need to step away from your devices and get outside..

Posted March 15, 2021 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

• Physical activity outdoor or just sitting outside to take in the fresh air has many health benefits.
• Being in nature lowers cortisol, reduces heart rate, bolsters immunity, improves mood, among other gains.
• Sunshine can also provide vitamin D, which is associated with improving mood disorders and preventing illness.

I have long been a proponent of spending time in nature as part of an integrative health plan. Even a small amount of time spent outdoors can physically, mentally, and spiritually impact health positively. Especially during difficult times, stepping away from the computer, phone, or TV, and taking advantage of outside activities can benefit your health.

The Physical Benefits of Time Outdoors

Research has shown that immersing oneself in nature influences the body. Spending time outdoors is typically connected to walking, running, biking, and hiking. Any exercise can reduce stress , improve pain, and brain function, and slow aging and heart disease. However, whether going outside to exercise or just spending a few minutes sitting outside to take in the fresh air has additional advantages. For example, it can do the following:

• Lower cortisol
• Reduce heart rate if aiming to enjoy nature casually
• Stimulate the immune system through being around trees which emit chemicals called phytocides
• Improves mood
• Boost natural killer cells in the body that are important for fighting infection and cancer

Some individuals aren't fans of the quiet that can come from just listening to outdoor surroundings. If you fall under this category, consider listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks outside. This also might be a good time to call friends and family to catch up while you look at nature.

The Mental and Healing Advantages

Frequently we reference healing spaces as a way to improve lifestyle, mental health, and healing. The outdoors is a powerful healing space. When the sun is out, it provides vitamin D, which is associated with improving mood disorders and the prevention of various illnesses. Walking meetings can also boost creativity , reduce mental fatigue, and increase attention and focus.

If cold weather is delaying your interest in spending time outside, stepping outside for fresh air, or just sitting by a window and looking out at the sky, grass or trees can make an impact. One study showed that patients who had a room looking out on nature got out of the hospital after surgery a full day earlier than those that looked at a brick wall.

It can be tough to enjoy the outdoors when it is rainy or snowy. Grab an umbrella or snow gear and try to see the beauty in the raindrops or snowflakes as you spend time outdoors. If you're not a fan of messy weather, sit by a window and try to appreciate how special nature is throughout the various seasons.

There's a Spiritual Connection

There is substantial evidence that people who engage in spiritual and religious practices stay healthy longer and recover faster. Various religions have incorporated nature into their belief systems for centuries. Greek temples surrounded patients with nature, music, and art to restore harmony and promote healing. Chinese and Indian systems of care use space and geography to promote healing. Japanese medicine uses “ forest bathing ,” going into the woods, as a healing method.

Nature also frequently provides positive images for meditation . Just as winter turns to spring, one's self-healing capacity can move from sickness into health. The restorative quality of nature and your own body is an important image to hold onto throughout your health and wellness journey.

Connect Socially and Safely

In this time of social distancing, the research is clear that connecting with others outside is safer than connecting inside as it reduces the chance of viral transmission. That is true whether we are talking of the coronavirus or any other virus.

To reconnect with your friends and family, take advantage of the warmer weather to get outside and catch up during a walk in nature. You may even find this helpful with your coworkers.

Wayne Jonas, M.D., is a professor of medicine at Georgetown University and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, as well as a retired lieutenant colonel in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army.

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The Practice of Healing in Nature

• January 28, 2022

Luis Gallardo

Nature has an incredible power to heal. If you’ve ever taken a walk in the park to clear your head, strolled under the trees, sat on the beach, taken in the refreshing air, or tended a garden, you know how restorative time spent in nature can be. Especially when dealing with trauma, physical or mental pain, nature can be a healer, friend, and counselor, guiding us back to wholeness.

Surrounding ourselves in the rhythms and shapes of nature can be transformative and healing. From Ayurveda, the ancient healing tradition of India, to your physician, everyone recommends spending at least twenty minutes in nature every day. Doing so allows us to experience the wonder of our existence with all our senses. Nature enables us to shift our attention beyond our egos and recognize our inextricable connection to the universe.

As children, we had a sense of connection and an innate fascination with the natural world around us. We’ve experienced openness and freedom that only nature exposure could provide. But, life somehow took us away from the soft grass, gentle breeze, and warm sun and made us live in a very different jungle altogether – the concrete one.

Although life is a glorious adventure of our souls, it often involves pain, struggle, and trauma. This, I could dare say, is an unavoidable thing. We all face challenges and have negative life experiences that leave scars. Some scars are so deep that they can numb us, leaving us stuck in our trauma. 

Our bodies keep the score, and when we can’t take it anymore, we just want to run away from ourselves, jump out of our own skin. Dissociation is one of the typical and uncomfortable symptoms of trauma. People who experience dissociation chronically feel unsafe in their bodies, they ignore their gut feelings and shut off everything around them. Simply put, they learn how to hide from themselves.

If trauma and its symptoms can be summed up as the act of hiding from oneself, then, in my opinion, nature has the opposite effect. Engaging your senses and focusing on the natural surroundings is a wonderful way to ground yourself in the present moment. Grounding in nature is an easy way to bring yourself out of the re-traumatizing rumination, flashbacks, and dissociation.

Life Hurts, Nature Heals

In the early eighties, a researcher visited a local suburban hospital in Peoli, Pennsylvania. He came there to collect information about patients who had undergone gallbladder surgery and were recovering in a row of rooms facing a courtyard. Such surgery is generally uncomplicated, and most patients recover in one or two weeks. However, the researcher wondered why some took longer to recover and whether differences between hospital rooms could be the reason for their longer stay. Some hospital rooms were faced onto a brick wall, while others faced a small stand of trees. Apart from the view, the rooms were identical.

The researcher discovered that patients facing the trees were feeling much better and would typically leave the hospital sooner than those with a brick wall view. They were also less depressed and would experience less pain. Even nurses would note that those people would be less upset and wouldn’t crave much encouragement compared to patients who could only look at lifeless bricks. 

Another example of nature having a powerful influence on our overall health is the wonderful book by Cindy Ross, ‘ Walking Towards Peace .’ In it, the author shares the stories of veterans who, after their deployment, have dealt with PTSD. Cindy Ross explains how, through a process of ecotherapy (spending time in nature for mental and physical healing), veterans could find tools to deal with such issues as survivor’s guilt, depression, nightmares, lack of trust, suicide thoughts, hypervigilance, and lack of purpose.

Some of the veterans she talks about have even gone to such extremes as spending months on long-distance expeditions, like canoeing the 2,320-mile Mississippi river or hiking the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail. Nevertheless, for most veterans, spending even a brief time in the outdoors has done wonders for their healing. What stands out the most is their collective belief that if you suffer from devastating wartime traumas, nature can provide you with much-needed and powerful comfort and healing.

Another fascinating look into the healing power of nature comes from ‘ The Nature Fix ,’ the book by an amazing journalist Florence Williams in which she details the benefits of spending time outdoors. She has spent years traveling the earth uncovering the science behind natural healing. For instance, did you know that within the first five minutes of walking in the forest, our bodies and brains start to change, our heart rate slows, our facial muscles begin to relax, and the incessant mind chatter quiets down. Our productivity and creativity levels rise, and we feel more connected to people and the world around us. The smell of pine trees strengthens our immune system while birds’ song and looking at various nature’s shapes allows our brain to put out more alpha waves, making us more calm and alert. Amazing stuff, isn’t it?

Nature has a way of teaching us how to face our challenges, become stronger through adversity, and care for ourselves more, which is something caregivers know much about. When Audrey’s twin brother Cory suffered a major spinal cord surgery, she became his full-time caregiver . She had to learn how to be a nurse, PT, OT, pain manager, and while doing so, she lost the sense of her own desires and needs. But with the support and tools she gained from the No Barriers program, she managed to re-focus on herself. Spending time outdoors and facing natural challenges has allowed her to let out her bottled feelings, share deep thoughts, lift her spirit, and learn to prioritize her self-care to be a better person for her family and herself.

Go Outside and Heal

Right now, in the age of coronavirus and self-distancing, there has never been a better time and greater need for the benefits of nature. Nature has a magical way of grounding us, and according to so many scientific proofs, it can have massive healing powers, from improving our mood and boosting the immune system to experiencing less physical pain. So, put your shoes on and get outside, walk under the trees, practice mindfulness, take a sunbath, breathe.

Continue to Part 4 of the Series on The Healing Power of Nature

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The Beauty About The Nature

To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society. I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me. But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty and light the universe with their admonishing smile.

The Stars Awaken a Certain Reverence, Because Though Always Present, They Are Inaccessible;

but all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection. Nature never became a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood. When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind. We mean the integrity of impression made by manifold natural objects. It is this which distinguishes the stick of timber of the wood-cutter, from the tree of the poet . The charming landscape which I saw this morning, is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape. There is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet . This is the best part of these men's farms, yet to this, their warranty deeds give no title. To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man but shines into the eye and the heart of the child.

The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other;

who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth becomes part of his daily food. In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. Nature says, — he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me. Not the sun or the summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight; for every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of the mind, from breathless noon to grimmest midnight.

Nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece. In good health, the air is a cordial of incredible virtue. Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration. I am glad to the brink of fear. In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth. Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years. In the woods, we return to reason and faith.

There I feel that nothing can befall me in life,

— no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, — my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, — all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God. The name of the nearest friend sounds then foreign and accidental: to be brothers, to be acquaintances, — master or servant, is then a trifle and a disturbance. I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature.

The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable.

I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me, and I to them. The waving of the boughs in the storm is new to me and old. It takes me by surprise, and yet is not unknown. Its effect is like that of a higher thought or a better emotion coming over me, when I deemed I was thinking justly or doing right.

Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both. It is necessary to use these pleasures with great temperance. For, nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. To a man laboring under calamity, the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it. Then, there is a kind of contempt of the landscape felt by him who has just lost by death a dear friend. The sky is less grand as it shuts down over less worth in the population.

Chapter I from Nature , published as part of Nature; Addresses and Lectures

What Is The Meaning Behind Nature, The Poem?

Emerson often referred to nature as the "Universal Being" in his many lectures. It was Emerson who deeply believed there was a spiritual sense of the natural world which felt was all around him.

Going deeper still in this discussion of the "Universal Being", Emerson writes, "The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head, and hands folded upon the breast. The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship."

It's common sense that "nature" is everything you see that is NOT man-made, or changed by man (trees, foliage, mountains, etc.), but Emerson reminds us that nature was set forth to serve man. This is the essence of human will, for man to harness nature. Every object in nature has its own beauty. Therefore, Emerson advocates to view nature as a reality by building your own world and surrounding yourself with natural beauty.

• The purpose of science is to find the theory of nature.
• Nature wears the colors of the Spirit.
• A man is fed, not to fill his belly, but so he may work.
• Each natural action is graceful.

"Material objects are necessarily kinds of scoriae of the substantial thoughts of the Creator, which must always preserve an exact relation to their first origin; in other words, visible nature must have a spiritual and moral side."

This quote is cited in numerous works and it is attributed to a "French philosopher." However, no name can be found in association with this quote.

What is the main point of Nature, by Emerson?

The central theme of Emerson's famous essay "Nature" is the harmony that exists between the natural world and human beings. In "Nature," Ralph Waldo Emerson contends that man should rid himself of material cares and instead of being burdened by unneeded stress, he can enjoy an original relation with the universe and experience what Emerson calls "the sublime."

What is the central idea of the essay Nature, by Emerson?

For Emerson, nature is not literally God but the body of God’s soul. ”Nature,” he writes, is “mind precipitated.” Emerson feels that to realize one’s role in this respect fully is to be in paradise (similar to heaven itself).

What is Emerson's view of the Nature of humans?

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Nature, the best healer

Spending just two hours a week in nature may promote physical and mental well-being, according to a British study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The study was based on a survey of nearly 20,000 people in England who were asked to rate their general health and well-being, and also answered questions about their engagement with nature during the previous week, including parks, beaches, countryside and other natural settings.

People who spent two to three hours per week in nature were 59 per cent more likely to report good health and 23 per cent more likely to report high well-being, compared to participants without any nature contact.

The positive association peaked at 300 minutes per week, beyond which there was no further gain. The benefits were seen across different groups of people, men and women, old and young, different occupational and ethnic groups, and those living in both rich and poor areas.

Even people with long-term illnesses or disabilities reported better health and well-being if they spent two hours in nature. And the benefits were seen if the nature visits were done in one long stretch or several short visits in a week.

The majority of nature visits in the study took place within just two miles of home.

Shape matters

Your cardiovascular disease risk may depend on your body shape.

According to a US study published in the European Heart Journal, post-menopausal women who are apple-shaped have a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, even if they are of normal weight, while pear-shaped women have a considerably lower risk.

To analyse if fat distribution impacted heart disease risk, the researchers followed 2,683 women with normal body mass index for nearly 18 years. None of the participants had cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. During the study period, 291 new cases occurred.

Women who stored most fat round their middle (apple shaped) had almost twice the risk of heart disease and stroke compared to women with the least fat stored around their middle. On the other hand, the risk was 40 per cent lower in women who stored the most fat in their legs (pear-shaped).

Women who had the highest percentage of fat around their middle and the lowest percentage of leg fat had more than three times greater risk compared to women with the least body fat and the most leg fat.

Stroke-triggering infections

Infections, especially urinary tract infections, may put you at risk of suffering a stroke.

For the study published in the journal Stroke, the researchers looked at the medical records of more than 190,000 people who had been treated for a stroke to see if they had been hospitalised for infections, including skin, urinary tract, septicaemia, abdominal and respiratory, at seven, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days prior to the stroke occurrence.

Every type of infection increased the risk of ischaemic stroke, a type of stroke caused by blocked blood vessels in the brain. But UTIs showed the strongest link. Patients were more than three times as likely to suffer an ischaemic stroke within 30 days of an UTI. The risk was over five times greater in the week following an infection.

UTI, blood infection and respiratory infection increased the risk for intra-cerebral haemorrhage, which is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Respiratory infection also increased the likelihood of subarachnoid haemorrhage, caused by bleeds in the inner lining of the brain.

Anticholinergic drugs and dementia risk

A commonly prescribed class of drugs has been shown to increase the risk of dementia. According to a British study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, patients aged 55 and older who took anticholinergic medication daily for three years or more, had a 50 per cent increased risk of dementia.

Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits messages in the nervous system. They are prescribed for a variety of health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder conditions, depression, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders and Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers compared the medical records of 58,769 patients with dementia and 225,574 patients without dementia. All the patients were 55 and older.

The increased risk of dementia was especially seen in patients who took anticholinergic drugs for depression, Parkinson’s, bladder problems and epilepsy, and in people aged below 80, suggesting that “anticholinergic drugs should be prescribed with caution in middle-aged and older people”.

Risky treatment

Patients who receive radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism have an increased long-term risk of cancer death from solid tumours, especially breast cancer. RAI is one of three commonly prescribed treatments for hyperthyroidism. The other two are anti-thyroid drugs and surgery.

The US study published in JAMA Internal Medicine included nearly 19,000 people with hyperthyroidism (mainly Graves’ disease) who received the radiation treatment between 1946 and 1964. None of them had cancer at the start of the study.

The researchers estimated radiation doses that each organ or tissue was exposed to as part of the treatment. While most of the radiation is absorbed by the thyroid gland, other organs like the breast and stomach are also exposed during treatment.

There was a dose-response relationship between the radiation dose absorbed by an organ and the risk of death from cancer at that site, especially for solid tumours in men and women, and for breast cancer in women.

Every 100 milligram of dose was associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of breast cancer death and 5 per cent greater risk of death from other solid cancers.

According to the study, for every 1,000 patients (average age 40) treated with RAI, there would be an additional 19 to 32 radiation-related solid cancer deaths.

Did You Know?

The risk of stillbirth increases with every week that a pregnancy continues beyond 37 weeks, which is considered full term. The risk increased by 87 per cent for deliveries at 42 weeks compared to 41 weeks of gestation.

PLOS Medicine

For timely detection

Prostate cancer often grows slowly and most men with a diagnosis do not require treatment. But the current prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests cannot predict which tumours will become aggressive, making it hard for doctors to decide which men need further treatment.

About 75 per cent of men with a high PSA test result do not have prostate cancer when they have a biopsy. On the other hand, PSA test fails to spot cancer in about 15 per cent of men with prostate cancer.

Prostate urine risk (PUR), the new urine test, can predict which patients will require treatment, five years earlier than the current tests. PUR looks for genetic markers to make a more accurate diagnosis.

The researchers hope the new test would help low-risk patients on active surveillance avoid unnecessary and repeated biopsies.

The findings were published in the journal BJU International.

Yogurt to fight colon cancer

Eating yoghurt may lower the risk of colon cancer in men.

The study published in the journal Gut was based on 32,606 men and 55,743 women.

All of them had a colonoscopy between 1986 and 2012. During the study, 5,811 men and 8,116 women developed polyps or adenomas, which are abnormal growths that have the potential to turn cancerous.

Men who ate two or more servings of yoghurt a week were 19 per cent less likely to develop conventional adenomas compared with men who did not eat any yoghurt. They were also 26 per cent less likely to develop the kind of adenomas that have the highest potential to become cancerous.

However, the study did not find any link between yoghurt consumption and adenoma risk in women.

So how does yoghurt help fight cancer? According to the researchers, yoghurt may promote the growth of healthy bacteria in our gut. Two common probiotics found in yoghurt, lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus, may reduce acids and cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. Yoghurt may also reduce inflammation, which reduces cancer risk.

Using LASER antiretroviral therapy followed by gene editing, US researchers have successfully eliminated HIV from infected animals’ genome for the first time.

Nature Communications

Can cervical cancer be eradicated?

A global review of the impact of HPV vaccinations has shown significant reductions in human papillomavirus infections, genital warts and precancerous lesions that can lead to cervical cancer.

The HPV vaccine, offered to girls and boys, protects against the HPV strains—HPV 16 and 18—that cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers. It also provides protection against 90 per cent of the strains that cause genital warts.

For the study published in The Lancet, researchers reviewed 65 studies that included data collected over eight years from more than 60 million people in 14 countries.

Compared to rates before vaccination, HPV 16 and 18 dropped by 83 per cent in girls aged 13 to 19 years, and by 66 per cent among women aged 20 to 24, five to eight years after vaccination initiation. In addition, there was a 54 per cent reduction in three other types of HPV—31, 33 and 45—in teen girls.

Precancerous cervical lesions went down by 31 per cent in women aged 20 to 24 and 51 per cent in teen girls.

Cases of genital warts went down by 67 per cent in girls aged 15 to 19, 48 per cent in boys aged 15 to 19, 54 per cent in women aged 20 to 24, 32 per cent in men aged 20 to 24, and 31 per cent in women aged 25 to 29 years.

For your sexual health

Regular nut consumption can improve erectile and sexual function in healthy men.

Lifestyle factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, psychological stress, and unhealthy diets can negatively impact erectile and sexual function.

For the Spanish study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers assigned 83 healthy men, aged 18 to 35, to one of two groups. Men in the nut group were asked to add 60g raw mixed nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, and walnuts) daily to their usual western-style diet for 14 weeks, while those in the control group followed their usual western-style diet without any nuts.

The nut intervention group reported significant increase in the orgasmic function and sexual desire at the end of the study period compared to the control group.

“Our study suggests that compliance with a healthy diet supplemented with mixed nuts may help improve erectile function and sexual desire,” the study concluded.

Hidden recovery signals

There is no clear way for doctors to predict which patients will recover from coma after a brain injury. Neurological examinations and other tests that are currently used by doctors to estimate the likelihood of recovery are often inaccurate.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, some patients in coma may show signs of hidden consciousness that are detectable with EEGs just days after injury and those patients are more likely to get better.

The study was based on 104 unresponsive adult patients who had suffered a sudden brain injury due to internal bleeding, trauma, or oxygen deprivation. They were unable to talk and did not respond to commands to move.

The researchers used EEG to scan the brain waves of the patients as they were asked many times to open and close their hands or stop opening and closing their hands. Using an algorithm, the brain waves were then analysed to see if there were different patterns of activity, suggesting that the patients could differentiate between the two commands even though they could not act on it.

Fifteen per cent of the patients had brain activity patterns suggesting hidden consciousness within four days of the injury. Among them, 50 per cent were able to follow verbal commands before being discharged from hospital compared to 26 per cent of those without such brain activity.

A year later, 44 per cent of patients with the brain activity patterns were able to function independently for eight hours daily, compared with only 14 per cent of those without such brain activity.

About 81 per cent of antibiotics prescribed by dentists before dental procedures to prevent infections are unnecessary.

JAMA Network Open

Beware, workaholics

People who regularly work long hours have a higher risk of stroke, especially if they do so for ten years or more, according to a French study published in the journal Stroke.

The study defined long hours as working more than ten hours for at least 50 days a year.

The risk was similar for both men and women, but greatest for people younger than 50. The study included 143,592 participants, 29 per cent of whom reported working long hours and 10 per cent reported working long hours for a decade or more.

Among them, 1,224 had suffered a stroke.

Working long hours was associated with a 29 per cent greater risk of stroke. The risk was 45 per cent greater for those who worked long hours for ten years or more.

Part-time workers and those who suffered a stroke before working long hours were excluded from the study.

CONTRIBUTOR: SHYLA JOVITHA ABRAHAM

7 Ways Nature Can Be The Best Healer

Being outdoors in nature is so refreshing! It can be fantastic to connect to the world outside in such a close and personal way. But did you know that nature is more than just a refresher? It also has scientific benefits as a healer of various problems.

For years, experts have touted the healing effects of nature. It has been implemented in many recovery programs for patients from all backgrounds and with many forms of illnesses. Whether you face physical injury or disease, mental illness, trauma, or psychological distress, the great outdoors has the answer for you. Here are seven ways nature can be the best healer.

1.    As A Healer, Nature Improves Mental Health

Studies have shown that spending just ninty minutes walking in nature can reduce the risk of rumination. Rumination is a crucial symptom of depression and anxiety and tends to lead to adverse mental wellbeing. As a healer, nature can help to reduce the severity of those experiences by alleviating symptoms.

But this isn’t all that nature does for mental health! Spending time in nature is known to:

2.    It Encourages Exercise (One Of The Best Healers)

Exercising in nature can also make you further enjoy your workouts. You’ll feel more energized and invigorated, so you’ll want to do it even more. This is beneficial to those who need to stay committed to exercise in their healing journey.

3.    It Reduces Blood Pressure

In 2019, the organization’s research also found that over half a million deaths in America were related in some way to hypertension. This is made worse because high blood pressure increases your risk of stroke and heart disease. These two diseases are also the United States’ leading causes of death!

Yes, you read that correctly. Studies show that just thirty minutes spent outdoors in a park can be enough to control the hypertension of almost ten percent of those who have it. For those with more severe cases, more time in nature is needed, but the results are the same! The stress-relieving and exercise-inducing effects of being out in greenery work wonders.

4.    It Strengthens Immunity

There’s some scientific basis for this! Breathing in fresh air from natural environments means breathing in healthy airborne chemicals called phytoncides. Phytoncides are produced by plants as a means of protecting themselves against insects and pests. As such, this chemical has immense antifungal and antibacterial properties.

5.    It Improves Sleep (An Essential Healer)

If you want to get a good night’s sleep, you need to look no further than right outside your door! Nature is highly beneficial in aiding sleep quality, say studies . Time outdoors can reduce stress and boost positive energy expenditure, allowing you to enjoy better rest. It can also make you more energized overall, so you’ll need less sleep to enjoy the best effects.

This deep sleep cycle requires healthy sleep quality to achieve. Interrupted sleep doesn’t allow the body to reach its restorative phase. On top of that, too-short sleep periods don’t let the body get to that phase of the cycle enough times. When you manage to achieve high-quality and consistent sleep, your body protects and energizes itself well.

How Sleep Can Become a Great Healer

For sleep to do its best work as a healer, you need a consistent sleep/wake cycle. This cycle stems from the Circadian rhythm or the body’s natural sleepiness and wakefulness for 24 hours. If you don’t have any sleep disorders, you’ll feel awake when the sun is up and feel drowsy as it goes down. It’s essential to maintain regular sleep patterns to get ideal results. You should aim to get 8 hours of sleep per night!

6.    It Increases Awe

Nature is one of the most potent ways to experience life-changing awe. Research has found that looking at beautiful, towering trees in forests can produce an incredible feeling of awe. These emotions were more substantial than what was experienced by those who look at tall buildings. But how can awe be a healer through nature? Well, it:

7.    It Even Works Indoors

Going outside to access nature’s properties as a healer isn’t feasible for all those who are recovering. Some may not find going into nature to be accessible to them at this stage in their lives.

Final Thoughts On Why Nature Can Be The Best Healer

Human beings were born into lands filled with nature as far as the eye could see. Over time, the modern world has decreased our overall interaction with nature. It’s a real shame, especially given nature’s many benefits!

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Essay on Benefits of Nature

Students are often asked to write an essay on Benefits of Nature in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Benefits of Nature

The healing power of nature.

Nature is a great healer. It brings peace to our minds and bodies. When we spend time in nature, we feel calm and relaxed. It reduces stress and improves our mood.

Nature and Physical Health

Being in nature can also benefit our physical health. It encourages us to exercise and stay active. Walking, running, or playing in green spaces helps us stay fit and healthy.

Learning from Nature

Nature is a fantastic teacher. It teaches us about the cycles of life, the importance of diversity, and the need for balance. It inspires creativity and sparks curiosity in young minds.

250 Words Essay on Benefits of Nature

The therapeutic power of nature.

The natural world has been a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight for generations. It is a sanctuary for the human spirit, offering a sense of peace and tranquility that is often lacking in our fast-paced, technology-driven lives.

Mental Health Enhancement

Physical health improvement.

In addition to mental health, nature also contributes to our physical well-being. Activities such as hiking, cycling, or simply walking in a park can improve cardiovascular health, enhance physical strength, and boost the immune system. Moreover, exposure to sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D, crucial for bone health and disease prevention.

Fostering Creativity and Mindfulness

Nature can stimulate our creativity and foster a sense of mindfulness. The beauty and complexity of natural patterns, shapes, and colors can inspire artistic and innovative thoughts. Moreover, the quietude of nature encourages mindfulness, promoting a deep sense of connection with our surroundings and ourselves.

Sustainable Living and Climate Change Mitigation

Finally, nature teaches us the principles of sustainable living. Understanding and appreciating the intricate balance of ecosystems can inspire us to adopt more sustainable practices, reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to climate change mitigation.

In conclusion, the importance of nature in our lives cannot be overstated. As we navigate through the complexities of the modern world, let us remember to take the time to reconnect with nature and reap its numerous benefits.

500 Words Essay on Benefits of Nature

The natural world has a profound impact on our well-being. A growing body of research suggests that exposure to nature can lead to a wealth of health benefits, both physical and mental. The Japanese practice of ‘Shinrin-Yoku’, or ‘forest bathing’, has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and improve mood.

The Physical Benefits of Nature

Nature and mental health.

The mental health benefits of nature are equally significant. Natural environments can act as a buffer against stress, helping to restore our attention and relax our minds. A study published in the journal “Environmental Science & Technology” found that just five minutes of exercise in a green space can dramatically improve mood and self-esteem.

Nature and Cognitive Function

Nature’s impact extends to our cognitive abilities as well. Research indicates that exposure to natural settings can enhance memory and attention span. A study from the University of Michigan found that walks in nature could improve short-term memory by 20%. The calming effect of nature helps to clear the mind, allowing for better concentration and creativity.

Connecting with Nature

Nature and sustainability.

Lastly, immersing ourselves in nature fosters a deeper appreciation for our planet and its ecosystems. This can lead to more sustainable behaviors, such as recycling, composting, and adopting a plant-based diet. These actions not only benefit our health but also contribute to the preservation of our environment.

In conclusion, nature offers a plethora of benefits to our physical and mental well-being. It is a powerful yet underutilized tool for health and happiness. As we move forward in an increasingly urbanized world, it is crucial to reconnect with nature and reap its many benefits.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Natural Environment — Benefits of Nature in Well-being

Benefits of Nature in Well-being

• Categories: Natural Environment

About this sample

Words: 2628 |

14 min read

Published: Dec 12, 2018

Words: 2628 | Pages: 6 | 14 min read

Works Cited

• Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169-182.
• Kuo, F. E., & Taylor, A. F. (2004). A potential natural treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: evidence from a national study. American Journal of Public Health, 94(9), 1580-1586.
• Mayer, F. S., Frantz, C. M., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., & Dolliver, K. (2008). Why is nature beneficial? The role of connectedness to nature. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 607-643.
• Selhub, E. M., & Logan, A. C. (2012). Your brain on nature: The science of nature's influence on your health, happiness, and vitality. Wiley.
• Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420-421.
• Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201-230.
• Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.
• World Health Organization. (2016). Urban green spaces and health: A review of evidence. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/204585/9789241565196_eng.pdf;jsessionid=86DEB82E1A0B29BB82B04B193D8C33FC?sequence=1
• Yoshifumi, M., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). Effects of a forest environment on human natural killer (NK) activity and anti-cancer protein production. Acta Medica Nagasakiensia, 54(4), 63-70.
• Zeitzer, J. M., & Ruby, N. F. (2010). Why we nap: Evolution, chronobiology, and functions of polyphasic and ultrashort sleep. Springer.

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Nature is the best healer.

According to statistics, more and more people become residents of large cities. We quickly get used to the city; it lures us into its tempo and rhythm. And very often amidst all the hustle and bustle of our life there we do not realize how frazzled, stressed and worn out we became. 

It is quite interesting that in spite of the fact that there are a huge amount of various articles on this topic, and scientists are conducting numerous researches in this field, but still the vast majority of city dwellers rarely remember about the easiest way to unload themselves from the burden of thousands of problems and issues they have to resolve in their everyday life and to escape from this strenuous, killing pace of life, giving rest to their body and brain. 

Mankind originated and for thousands of years existed in midst of nature. The habit of urban life  emerged only recently and has not yet had time to gain a foothold genetically. And as we find ourselves in the nature, we feel an amazing sense of peace and calmness, consonant with the outside world and with our individual self.

Feel yourself the refreshing and beneficial influence of nature during a hike or an easy stroll. When you are in nature your blood pressure goes down, the silence delights the ear and envelops the body, and of course moving in the open air is much easier and more ravishing than indoors. Physical activity is especially useful in the nature and besides of that brings lots of fun for kids. Amazing nature of Washington State  presents excellent opportunities to improve your physical health and bring in order your state of mind.

Nature has always invigorated people, giving them strength and health. In the past people’s lives depended largely on nature. Today, for most people time spent outdoors in the midst of unbelievably beautiful landscape  brings some special peace of mind and opens many options of outdoor activities. It doesn’t matter what you chose – a pleasant stroll among the trees along the narrow paths of some city park or camping and hiking in the mountains, exploring the beauty of pristine nature – you will only benefit from this, maintaining your health and resisting the general deterioration of health in modern society, resulting from decreased physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. 

Nature has a positive effect on health and well-being, at least in three areas:

• Physical activity increases in the open air : nature implies movement. Even without noticing it, in nature we move much faster and more vigorously than indoors, even the physical exercises seem easier.

Pure and beautiful nature is the best place for sports. In nature’s lap attention is concentrated not only on the physical exercises, but also on the environment. Therefore, hike in the woods can often seem less strenuous than going in for sports indoors. In contrast to the urban environment, a variety of natural landscapes and sceneries provide an opportunity for a more agile and lightsome walk.

• Nature revivifies man to life and helps to recover from stress : the attention concentration improves, and the heart rate, as well as blood pressure, decrease.

Picturesque landscapes, sounds and smells help to free our mind from tasks requiring concentration. Nature helps the body to rest and recover from all the accumulated stress and the brain to work well. 

Rapidly developing information overload and the lifestyle, where most of the day is spent in front of a computer screen and other electronic equipment, set certain requirements for brain health and efficiency. Tasks which require sustained attention predispose to stress and fatigue. Our creativity and concentration deteriorate, if the brain at least from time to time does not get a chance to recover from the strain

David Strayer , a well-known cognitive psychologist from the University of Utah, who studies peculiarities of attention, claims that nature and beautiful landscapes help to relieve stress and increase the efficiency of the brain. He conducted numerous experiments to prove his theories. 

One of the experiments was conducted with 54 volunteers, whose average age was 28 years, to prove that a camping trip to the woods for 3-6 days, during which it was forbidden to use electronic devices, significantly improves the mental abilities of people. The participants of the experiment were tested firstly at the beginning of the camping trip and then after it. The results showed that initially they received in average 4,14 points and after the camping – 6,08 points.

In another experiment, 22 student volunteers went for a hiking trip. Again, tests have shown that they were able to solve the problem tasks and perform creative assignments after three days of the trip up to 50% more efficient than before the trip.

As a result of his experiments David Strayer discovered " the effect of three days ." He believes that the nature and beautiful scenery is an excellent remedy for stress and a way to improve brain functioning, and in order for it to work, it is enough to stay outdoors for three days. He compares staying in nature to shine washing the windshield of your car – in both cases, as he says, the picture of the world becomes clear.

• Staying on nature contributes social well-being and sense of community : we positively respond to other people, and our mood gets better pretty quickly.

Nowadays, social isolation and loneliness is a common phenomenon in many countries, both in cities and in remote areas. Scientific evidence shows that surrounding us natural environment has properties that make people feel better, even socially. Proximity to nature, staying and working in nature makes people to deliberate and to think more positively not only about themselves but also about other people! Staying alone in nature is perceived better than in the urban environment. Nature strengthens the sensations: a sense of community and of belonging to a place and unified whole can be increased.

Even a short walk in nature is beneficial!

Another researcher Matilda van den Bosch has studied the influence of virtual nature on a person. Her experimental were subjected to stress: they solve complex problems on the speed or were interviewed for a job. They were then sent to a virtual forest with beautiful views and birds singing. As a result, their heart rate quickly returned to normal, which means that the virtual nature also has a calming effect on us.

All this proves that many of us already knew intuitively: nature helps us to get rid of stress and picturesque landscape heals !

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