What if I told you there’s a therapy, readily available and accessible to all, that improves mental performance? That it also ameliorates stress and reduces mortality, all without side effects – or cost?
You’d probably think I’m joking, but that therapy exists. It is called interacting with nature.
Throughout history, people have entertained the notion that a return to nature – or at least a temporary escape to it – is beneficial to our health. As you undoubtedly have experienced yourself, nature exerts a restorative magic on us. It helps clear our minds so we can think better. Being outdoors makes us happy.
More Than a Feeling
Modern science is finally corroborating those intuitions, which are about as old as mankind itself. Studies have found that people living near “green spaces” like parks, gardens, lakes, and forests experience less disease, mental distress and death than those living in urban jungles. Science also tells us that a dose of nature can improve a person’s problem-solving ability and her higher cognitive skills.
One theory postulates that being immersed in nature allows the brain’s control center to unwind, decompress, and reset. Other scientists believe the positive influence of nature is related to evolution: Humans spent millions of years living in nature, so we feel more comfortable there whether we realize it or not. It’s a sort of homecoming.
Forest Therapy
Studies from all over the world have found that taking time to immerse oneself in nature:
- Stimulates areas of the brain associated with empathy and altruism
- Reduces blood flow to the area associated with depressive thinking
- Reduces cortisol levels, and thus stress and anxiety
There are socioeconomic benefits, too. A study by Korea Forest Service found that forest therapy reduces medical costs while simultaneously benefiting local economies.
Given that public health problems such as depression and obesity are linked to excessive time spent indoors, it’s unsurprising that many communities are exploring forest therapy in dealing with medical and behavioral issues, as well as to promote public welfare.
Step Outside
From pediatric patients being prescribed forest visits, to helping victims of bullying, teaching inmates to control anger issues, to improving the decision-making of executives, to its potential application in the treatment of alcoholism, forest therapy appears to be a promising new frontier. So put down your phone, step outside and get reacquainted with nature.
(Main photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash)