The Healing Power of Nature

I’m sure if you cast your mind back to your childhood, you will remember being told to ‘get outside and play’ - it seems now that our Mothers were on to something, as more and more studies show that time spent out side in nature brings with it a wealth of health benefits.. 

Studies have shown that time in nature is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing. In a recent study, psychiatric unit researchers found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among patients.

Have you heard the term ‘forest bathing’? It’s a fancy term for walking in the woods, and it’s thought to help with our general wellbeing immensely - Japanese researchers  suspect aerosols from the forests, inhaled during a walk, are behind elevated levels of Natural Killer or NK cells in the immune system, which fight tumours and infections. 

So that walk in the park can really help you in some many ways - time away from a computer screen or TV helps your eyes re-adjust, moving the body gets the circulation going, inhaling fresh air is great for your immunity, and also being surrounded by all the beautiful colours in nature helps soothe our soul. I recommend getting out in nature for 30 mins at least, three times a week. Watch your sleep quality improve drastically, and see the benefits in your complexion too! 

To find out more about my own healing journey, click here.