We have heard many reasons why we should protect our woodlands, meadows, lakes, and forests. One of the main reasons is to preserve habitats for birds, animals, and insects. Another is to have clean consumable water and clean air to breathe. But did you know that being in nature also is a “prescription” for mental and physical healing?
According to an article in Reader’s Digest, there is a growing trend among doctors to prescribe time in nature to their patients for a variety of physical and mental concerns. Scott Kaiser, MD, (a board-certified geriatrician and director of geriatric cognitive health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute) and Bert Mandelbaum, MD (a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedar-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Santa Monica, CA), both prescribe time in nature to their patients.
In a 2023 study, published in Lancet, researchers found that nature “prescriptions” can lower blood pressure, inflammation, and risk of cardiovascular disease. They can aid in weight loss, lessen chronic pain, and improve mobility. These “prescriptions” can also lower stress, depression, and anxiety while improving cognitive function. “The science is clear,” says Dr. Kaiser. “Nature isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity for good health.”
So, get outside, put away your phone, listen to the birds, be mindful in what you are seeing, hearing, and smelling. Go barefoot in the grass and sit under a tree. You can combine exercise with your nature experience, by walking, biking, swimming, paddleboarding, etc., or you can just sit on your porch and enjoy the gentle breeze and sunshine on your face. Dr. Kaiser says, “Nature gives us this long-term happiness, as opposed to the short-term, immediate gratification type of happiness. That sense of wonder and awe is priceless and impacts your entire well-being.”