The Healing Powers of Mother Earth |
Posted: January 10, 2018 |
Taking the Edge Off: Getting out in nature can be a truly spiritual experience. Never in history have humans been so disengaged from their natural environment, as the population shifts from rural to city life. Today, people spend less time physically engaging with plants and animals. As a species are not fully adapted to living such an unnatural existence that many live, which over time can lead to decreases in vitality and health. For too many people, their only access to nature comes in the local parks. We are totally dependent on nature for our material needs such as food, water and material for shelter, while often overlooking our psychological well-being as tied up with the natural world as well. So many are segregated in man-made communities. If you are feeling stressed or like you need a mental refresher, a little wilderness therapy may be just what you need. Small Things Add Up: When it comes to health and well-being, it seems like the little things make the biggest difference. The relationship between human health and the health of the environment remains to be fully understood, although it has been found that natural settings elicited various responses including a component of the parasympathetic nervous system associated with restoration of physical energy. Being in the forest has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels, with increases in physical activity being one positive influence. With all of these observed benefits, public health strategists would be wise to tap into the idea that nature plays a vital role in human health and well-being. It has been documented to lower cortisol in the bloodstream, in addition exposure to natural light can help to normalize your sleep schedule. Getting out in the sun can give you a much-needed dose of vitamin D. The Importance of Limiting Pollution: Fresh air is easier than polluted air for your body to process oxygen, which can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. A benefit that you may not have thought of comes from the bacteria in soil, which have been linked to boosting serotonin levels, acting as a natural antidepressant by encouraging its release and metabolism in areas of the brain linked with mood and cognition. These bacteria can also act as anti-inflammatories for your immune system, which bring beneficial effects in relieving symptoms of heart disease and diabetes. People with access to nearby natural setting have been found to be healthier overall than others, as it helps to increase activity in a circuit in the brain activated when the body is at rest, promoting relaxation and well-being. Instilling Cities with Life: Not everyone is willing or able to live outside of a city, but can at least moderately reap the benefit from their cities parks and green spaces. Increasing green spaces in cities can have many physical and mental health benefits, including helping to relieve severity of symptoms for some asthma sufferers. Affecting almost 25 million Americans, asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that makes it difficult to breathe, one of the main triggers is air pollution. Plants and greenery serve to improve air quality, which encourages healthier lungs over time. Being around nature scenes have shown to reduce recovery time when compared to urban/suburban or hospital scenes. Resetting, Refreshing, Renewing: Spending time in nature can be thought of as a return to your natural state, the biophilia hypothesis asserts that humans have an innate and subconscious tendency to seek connections with the rest of life and nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to be an effective way to ease depression and anxiety, capable of relieving some of the effects of stress on the body. Even short periods of time are thought to reduce symptoms of depression, having a variety of restorative effects on the human psyche. Clearing the mind and reducing stress can serve to improve productivity
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