Nature and Holistic Health

Improving health using a holistic approach means addressing psychological, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social dimensions of wellbeing all together. The source of one's ailment may be the result of multiple causes, and thus addressing multiple facets of health would ensure a greater chance of healing. Research has found that spending more time outdoors in a natural setting improves health in many ways, and that nature is an important component of holistic health.

Physical:

Numerous health benefits are associated with physical activity, such as walking, running, cycling, canoeing, etc., in natural environments. Physical activity helps to prevent cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, gallbladder disease, and other health conditions. Greater exposure to nature has also been associated with better immune system function. Microscopic organisms (microbes) and compounds such as phytoncides present in natural environments aid specific immune system processes. Study participants have also self-reported better sleep, a critical component of health, after spending more time in nature.

Medicinal plants have been used to improve physical health for thousands of years. The Egyptians, Ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, and Native Americans all utilized medicinal plants. Today, 11% of drugs that the World Health Organization considers “basic” and “essential” are made using flowering plants as a key ingredient. For example, aspirin is made with the bark of willow trees. Catharanthus roseus, the Madagascar periwinkle, contains chemicals necessary to make vincristine and vinblastine, two chemotherapeutic drugs. Other examples of medicinal plants include ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, and chamomile, which possess antioxidative properties and help to soothe gastrointestinal illness.

Psychological/mental:

There are many studies that indicate a strong link between spending time in natural environments and improved psychological health. Mental stress is soothed by the presence of natural environments. Sounds and images of nature have been proven to calm the nervous system and reduce chronic stress, which, when prolonged, leads to high blood pressure and excess cortisol. In a time when approximately four out of every five Americans live in cities where stress-inducing stimuli such as traffic, schedules for work, images on screens, etc. can lead to chronic stress, figuring out ways to make natural environments accessible is important. More exposure to nature has even been correlated with a lower prevalence of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Spiritual:

A common belief in spiritual traditions is the idea of a fundamental reality in which everything is interconnected. In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Neith is described as “the mother and father of all things.” Ancient Sanskrit texts describe the Brahma, which in Hinduism is a concept referring to the connection of “all beings, all gods, all worlds, all breaths, and all selves.” The lessons of interconnectedness taught in spirituality can foster a healthy sense of self and oneness with all that is. It has been shown that spiritual practices such as meditation and mindfulness help to calm the nervous system and strengthen areas of the brain related to higher executive function, such as the prefrontal cortex. Practicing mindfulness in nature can help us cultivate a perspective of interconnectedness, which has been associated with pro-environmental behavior and actions of reciprocity. Meditation also does not have to be done solely as a religious practice; anyone can benefit from it.

Social:

Easier access to parks, trails, beaches, and pleasant spaces with greenery motivate people to leave their homes and meet other people because natural spaces provide an enjoyable setting for social interaction. Studies have found that prosocial behavior increases when more natural environments and greenspaces are present. This is important because a stronger social fabric reduces rates of cardiovascular disease and incidents of aggressive behavior. Better social connections not only support individual health, but societal health as well. Research of 2,000 people in the UK found spending more time in nature was correlated with stronger social relations and lower crime rates.

Organizing collective efforts to build greenspaces and make nature more accessible, especially in urban settings, will help improve the overall health of the populace. City planners, landscape architects, engineers, health care professionals, environmental advocates, politicians, and other stakeholders can develop collaborative approaches to figure out pragmatic ways of integrating greenspace into city layouts. An example of this is Park RXAmerica. Robert Zarr, who works under Unity Healthcare in Washington, D.C., founded the organization in 2013. Their mission is to lower rates of chronic disease and boost people’s health, happiness, and environmental stewardship through the use of “park prescriptions” so patients can spend more time immersed in nature to prevent and reduce chronic health issues.

There have also been efforts to utilize nature as the main component of healthcare. In Washington Township, New Jersey, only a few miles down the road from where Just Honest Living itself is based, the non-profit organization Ethos Farm provides regular medical services, but also utilizes regenerative farming practices to grow food for their patients in their Farm to Health program. A pesticide-free diet is prescribed as a preventive measure against the development of various forms of chronic diseases. Instead of treating diseases as they arise, patients lower their risk of chronic health issues developing in the first place.

ParkRXAmerica and Ethos Farms demonstrate that efforts are being made to utilize nature as a tool for achieving holistic health. More research, more creativity, and more time spent outdoors will help us to further realize the importance of nature for our wellbeing.