Applications
lower levels of cortisol were reported in adults after they performed mental activities in a hardwood forest than in those who had performed the same activities in an indoor classroom (Journal of Medical Entomology 2004).
The idea that exposure to nature can heal has given rise to such adjunctive therapies as therapeutic horticulture and therapeutic landscape design. Therapeutic landscape design, as mentioned at the start of this article, has been shown to produce measurable, positive health effects.
Enhanced immune function while physiologic indicators of stress can decrease after exposure to nature, indicators of immune response can increase, according to research reported in 2011 (international Journal of immunopathology and Pharmacology). Subjects who visited a forested area, but not a non-forested urban environment, were found to have enhanced activity of their natural killer (NK) cells. These cells provide a rapid response to cells infected with a virus and also attack tumor cells. in addition, the same individuals had higher levels of anticancer proteins within their NK cells. Both effects continued to be observed when tested 30 days after exposure to the forested area.
Therapeutic horticulture uses plants and plant-related activities to promote health and wellness. Gardening, for example, provides an opportunity to create and control the environment. This sense of control creates a sense of empowerment and self-esteem, which aids healing. Gardening also affords a sense of purpose and achievement, which can support people dealing with depression or other mental health concerns.
Therapeutic horticulture uses plants and plantrelated activities to promote health and wellness.
The risk of developing a mental health disorder may actually increase as someone spends more time in front of a screen (Developmental Psychology 2008, Journal of Environmental Psychology 2009). Time spent in nature thus can mediate against such health problems, both by getting someone away from
Improved cognition Research has shown that cognitive benefits gained by working with plants include improvements in concentration, ability to remember, and ability to pay attention. working with plants may ameliorate clinical depression as well, suggests research reported in the Journal of Advanced Nursing (2010). After participating in a 12-week program of therapeutic horticulture, 50 percent of the depressed patients studied showed a clinically relevant decline in their scores on a depression-measuring test. This reduction in depression continued to be in effect when measured three months after the program ended. Multiple studies have found that cognitive malfunctioning in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improves upon exposure to nature, reported Biopsychosocial Medicine in 2012. One study found that performance on concentration-requiring tasks was higher after the children tested had spent time in a natural wooded area, compared to a built urban area. Another study suggested that children with ADHD showed milder symptoms when engaged in activities in an outdoor environment than when engaged in the same activities in an indoor, windowless play area. Mortality Not only can interacting with the natural environment reduce stress and improve both immune and cognitive functioning, it may also help equalize health inequalities associated with lower socioeconomic status (Biopsychosocial Medicine 2012). That was the conclusion of researchers who found that people who had low income but high levels of residential green space had mortality rates comparable to people of higher socioeconomic status. in contrast, people who had low income but little residential green space had higher mortality rates than their wealthier counterparts.
Nature’s health benefits to page 32
Creative Care Art + Healing in the Twin Cities
An exhibition produced by Forecast Public Art in partnership with Hennepin County's Multicultural Arts Committee
November 4, 2013 – January 29, 2014
Hennepin Gallery | Hennepin County Government Center 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis (A Level) www.hennepin.us/hennepingallery
CORP CO RPOR RP ORAT OR ATE AT E
A R T
FORCE
Hennepin Health Hennepin HealthWorks Special thanks to Health Care News for its promotional support.
December 2013 MiNNESOTA HEAlTH CARE NEwS
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