What is Green Therapy?

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. ... There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."

—Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

My parents used to say, "Go play outside and let the stink blow off ya!" They probably just wanted me out of their hair for a little while; but looking back, I remember how refreshing and invigorating it was to be out in the fresh air. When it came time to come back in the house, I had pink cheeks, dirty feet, and a sense of adventure from hanging from trees and exploring the nature around my home. I remember feeling happy, energized, and sleeping soundly.

Now that I am in my thirties, I am incredibly thankful for the times I was told to go out and let the "stink blow off of me". (By the way, I didn't actually stink... I figured I should clarify that). While I did not know it at the time, being in nature was therapy.

Come to find out, nature therapy is an actual concept in the world of counselling! Nature therapy (also called green therapy or ecotherapy) is basically defined as "exposure to the non-human natural world"(1) for the purpose of promoting personal health and wellness. "Non-human natural world" could mean anything from bringing plants into your living space, spending time with animals, gardening, or going for a hike through the forest. Obviously, green therapy would look differently for someone living in the downtown area of a major city than for someone in a rural setting. It really depends on availability of natural surroundings and personal interests and preferences. For example, if someone hates camping, they would probably not benefit from that type of green therapy.

So are there actual health benefits to green therapy? Research findings say, "Absolutely!" A study done on green therapy in Japan showed that being in a forested area greatly decreased stress (including the "stress hormone" cortisol, pulse rate, and blood pressure) (2). This same study explored the effects of spending time in an urban park; the results also indicated a significant reduction in both physiological and psychological stress(2). Research has also shown that exposure to nature can positively affect mood, self-esteem, and energy, and can have both short- and long-term effects on one's general health and well-being (3).

I suppose it makes sense that nature is therapeutic to humans because nature is where we come from; it provides us with our basic needs of water, air, and food. We evolved as humans to be in nature. It is a place where we can find emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physiological healing (1).

So get outside! Cuddle a puppy! Get your hands dirty in the garden! Let the stink blow off ya!

Judy

References:

(1)  Brymer, E., Cuddihy, T., & Sharma-Brymer. (2012). The role of nature-based experiences in the development and maintenance of wellness. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/18377122.2010.9730328

(2) Song, C., Ikei, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2016). Physiological effects of nature therapy: A review of the research in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997467/

(3)  Barton, J. & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis. Retrieved from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es903183r