Okay y'all, so plants seem to be all the rage now, and for good reason! Are you like me and can't open your IG without seeing pictures of #plants? From indoor to outdoor to #palntshelfie and everything in between, I'm all about a good plant pic/fix (I'm all the way into Cacti right now! I'm not obsessed but com'on! What's your plant fix these days?) So now that things in the #plantkingdom are on the up and up, the medicine world is taking notice (come, step into the light!). In recent news: Doctors are prescribing HOUSEPLANTS for Anxiety, Depression, and Loneliness. Now y'all, WINNING!
In recent articles from treehugger and Inc., it is reported that doctors in the UK are giving patients indoor plants to help boost wellness (yeasss!). We all know that nature is a powerful healer and a powerful wellness booster (all science comes from studying nature anyway). And now it's being solidified with various studies that we need to get back into nature. Finding wide open spaces like a park where you can be fully immersed in a natural environment, buying plants to keep at home, or even getting into community gardening...all the possibilities. So back to the docs in the UK... Patients are being recommended/prescribed herbs, vegetables, and potted plants to care for. After a while, they bring them back to the medical office and transfer them to a communal garden. This is based on the idea that spending time in green spaces can help to lift your mood. Of course, houseplants and a community gardens aren't going to solve everyone's anxiety and depression, but, it's a step in the right direction. Getting outside: The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing," includes spending extended periods in natural environments to boost health and well being. This isn't just getting outside for a jog or crossfit/bootcamp style workout in the city. It's more of chillin in the trees style vibe. Think mindful experiences with nature. The focus is to slow down and allow your senses to experience nature and all the elements that exist within it (minus traffic sounds. Let's try to get as far away from traffic noise if possible). Take your shoes off and let your feet feel the ground beneath you (grounding). Pause to listen to the birds/animals around you. Reach out and touch a tree, flower, blade of grass etc. Slow your breathing down and breathe deeply smelling the oxygen rich air surrounding you. And for a full immersive experience, many followers of shinrin-yoku sit and sip tea. (bliss!) Benefits of #plantlife There are many benefits that come from being in nature as well as housing plants indoors and sharing in community. Subtle changes on a cellular/molecular level to gross changes occur within your body that brings health, healing, and happiness. Some changes noted from just housing plants are increased oxygen levels, staving off illness, cleaning the air in your home, boosting healing, nudging creativity, relieving stress, and fostering happiness. The fact that even just a few potted plants around your home or desk could have a real effect on your well-being is shown here. The benefits of outdoor plants and forest bathing have been studied and shows that spending time among trees boosts the number of "killer cells" in the immune system that are key to beating infections and fighting cancer. Spending time in forests also reduces blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Much of this has come from the realization that trees release antimicrobial essential oils that can produce slightly narcotic effects, and sometimes even act as a mild antidepressant. A recent British study showed that people saw significant health benefits from just two hours a week outdoors. Bringing the outdoors in: Many events are now popping up all over cities hosting classes where you can create your own indoor plant experience: ie plant&pour & the zen succulent DIY terrarium bar to name a few I've checked out. Or, even just walking the aisles of your local plant nursery, lowes or home depot's garden center, or your local community garden. You are bound to find a #plantbaby to love and care for! There is something for everyone, from the green thumb to the "I've killed another one", plant varietals are vast. Learning and watching them grow and even produce food that you can enjoy brings another level to the entire experience. Don't limit yourself to options here...YouTube is a great resource for plant care tips and a little bit of trial and error goes a long way. Experiment, have fun, and learn all while healing yourself and boosting those feel good endorphins. You are worth it! And the green grass grows all around all around, the green grass grows all around: If you're still thinking that's crazy and are thinking 'NO WAY!, this is NOT for me', other practices in Scotland and Canada have been sending patients out into nature and even to art museums to improve their well-being for a while now. Amazon just invested in a dome filled with 40,000 plants for its Seattle headquarters. There's a reason you look out the window and seek nature. It's important to give your brain brain micro-breaks throughout the day. It's something that a lot of us do naturally when we're stressed or mentally fatigued. It helps with concentration and maintaining performance across the workday -explains lead researcher Kate Lee. If you've ever had the common experience of finding the answer to a difficult problem while walking in the woods or a park, this is why!!! So let's embrace the beauty of nature and all go out and treat our selves to a new plant this weekend right!? I mean it is for our health/well-being after all.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorYoga Certified, C-PT, Holistic Chiropractor providing a path for peaceful healing. Archives
December 2019
Categories |