The Power of Nature to Human Health.

Whilst a growing body of evidence has demonstrated the importance of social relationships and social capital for health, the relationship between environmental health and human health remains little understood.

Access to nature reduces depression and obesity, finds European study | Society | The Guardian

As Brown states, sustainable ecosystems in these dimensions of human health need greater attention and exploration, as well as inclusion and emphasis in the knowledge base of public health Brown, When parks were first designed in the nineteenth century, city officials had a strong belief in the possible health advantages that would result from open space Hamilton-Smith and Mercer, ; Rohde and Kendle, These assumptions were used as justification for providing parks and other natural areas in cities, and preserving wilderness areas outside of cities for public use Parsons, ; Ulrich, Contact with nature in an urban park environment may be experienced via various means, including viewing natural scenes, being in natural settings, encountering plants and animals, participating in recreational activities, undertaking environmental conservation work, and participating in nature-based therapy programmes, amongst others.

Also provided is a summary of current knowledge based on current anecdotal, theoretical and empirical evidence. Only those human relationships with animals and plants where no economic benefit is to be gained from the relationship are included. The healing effects of a natural view are increasingly being understood in stressful environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, remote military sites, space ships and space stations Lewis, In these environments particularly, as well as for people who work in windowless offices, studies show that seeing nature is important to people and is an effective means of relieving stress and improving well-being Kaplan, a ; Lewis, ; Leather et al.

A study examining recovery rates of patients who underwent gall bladder surgery found that those with a natural view recovered faster, spent less time in hospital, had better evaluation from nurses, required fewer painkillers and had less postoperative complications compared with those that viewed an urban scene Ulrich, Similarly, Ulrich and colleagues studied the effects of different natural and urban scenes on subjects who had just watched a stressful film horror genre Ulrich et al.

Measuring a whole array of physiological measures [including heart rate, skin conductance, muscle tension and pulse transit time a non-invasive measure that correlates with systolic blood pressure ] they found that recovery was faster and more complete when subjects were exposed to natural rather than urban scenes Ulrich et al. The physiological data measured by this study suggests that natural settings elicit a response that includes a component of the parasympathetic nervous system associated with the restoration of physical energy Ulrich et al.

Research conducted in prison environments suggests that cell window views of nature are associated with a lower frequency of stress symptoms in inmates, including digestive illnesses and headaches, and with fewer sick calls overall by prisoners Moore, Tennessen and Cimprich gave university students a test and compared scores of students who had natural views to those that had did not Tennessen and Cimprich, They found that those with a view of nature scored better on the test than those with non-natural views.

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Research suggests access to nature in the workplace is related to lower levels of perceived job stress and higher levels of job satisfaction Kaplan and Kaplan, Workers with a view of trees and flowers felt that their jobs were less stressful and they were more satisfied with their jobs than others who could only see built environments from their window. In addition, employees with views of nature reported fewer illnesses and headaches Kaplan and Kaplan, A similar study found that a view of natural elements trees and other vegetation buffered the negative impact of job stress on intention to quit Leather et al.

Driving is known to be a stressful activity, and causes several physiological changes in the body, including: Findings demonstrated that participants who viewed nature-dominated drives experienced quicker recovery from stress and greater immunization to subsequent stress than participants who viewed artifact-dominated drives Parsons et al. Ulrich examined the effects of viewing nature on psychological state, particularly on mood affect, and found that participants who viewed slides of unspectacular scenes of nature had an increase in positive mood affect, while those who viewed scenes of urban areas experienced a decline in positive mood affect Ulrich, ; Ulrich, ; cited in Rohde and Kendle, In this and a later study, Ulrich concluded that scenes of nature, particularly those depicting water, had a beneficial influence on the psychological state of participants Ulrich, ; cited in Rohde and Kendle, Evidence presented here has demonstrated that just by viewing nature many aspects of human health and development can be markedly improved.

Evidence also exists for the therapeutic benefits to be gained from being in nature. Furnass found an experience of nature can help strengthen the activities of the right hemisphere of the brain, and restore harmony to the functions of the brain as a whole Furnass, According to theirs and other studies, restorative environments require four elements: Parks are ideal for restorative experiences due to their ability to satisfy the four elements described above Kaplan and Kaplan, ; Kaplan and Kaplan, ; Kaplan, a ; Kaplan b ; Kaplan For example, when comparing a walk in a natural setting, a walk in an urban setting, and relaxing in a comfortable chair, Hartig et al.

Whilst outside the emphasis of this paper, the community benefits of social contact within nature in parks and gardens is worthy of examination. Community gardens for example provide opportunities for socializing with and learning from fellow gardeners and residents that may normally be unavailable.

This aids community cohesion by dissolving prejudices about race, and economic or educational status Lewis, ; Lewis, At an annual gardening competition in a public housing area of New York, research found an increase in community cohesion, a reduction in graffiti and violence, and an increase in positive attitudes about themselves and their neighbourhood for residents, resulting in personal and neighbourhood transformation Lewis, ; Lewis, ; Lewis Wong examined the benefits of contact with nature for migrants Wong, ; cited in Rohde and Kendle, It has been stated that the major determinants of health may have little to do with the health care system Hancock, and that public health needs to focus on the environmental and social aspects of health Chu and Simpson, Public owned natural spaces are an ideal resource to support these and other aspects of human health and well-being.

Empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence demonstrates contact with nature positively impacts blood pressure, cholesterol, outlook on life and stress-reduction Moore, ; Kaplan and Kaplan, ; Hartig et al. These outcomes have particular relevance in areas of mental health and cardiovascular disease, categories that are set to be the two biggest contributors to disease worldwide by the year Murray and Lopez, Table 1 presents a summary of knowledge based on current anecdotal, theoretical and empirical evidence.

A summary of evidence supporting the assertion that contact with nature promotes health and well-being. As our understanding of the natural environment has developed, and the massive destruction human activities can have on natural systems has been observed, a more enlightened view has emerged. This view recognizes that plants and animals including humans do not exist as independent entities as was once thought, but instead are part of complex and interconnected ecosystems on which they are entirely dependent, and fundamentally a part of Driver et al.

As Suzuki states, the ecosystem is the fundamental capital on which all life is dependent Suzuki, It is clear that nature and natural environments relate to human health and well-being. To seek human health and sustainability without considering the importance of environmental sustainability is to invite potentially devastating consequences for the health and well-being of whole populations.

What is needed is a focus on social equity, social investment and social innovation in health and environment policy Kickbusch, b.

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Natural environments are an ideal setting for the integration of environment, society and health by promoting a socio-ecological approach to human health and well-being based on human contact with nature. Public health has a key role to play in environmental conservation, and environment administration has a key role to play in human health and well-being. On this basis, potential exists for parks and natural reserves to gain an expanded role, scope and influence in urban-based societies.

In some cases nature can significantly improve the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD , providing a calming influence and helping them concentrate. And for people suffering from physical illness or mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, interacting with nature can help people control their symptoms or even recover, alongside conventional medication. Dr Miles Richardson, head of psychology at the University of Derby, conducted the study and explains that the results are significant, both statistically and from an applied perspective. It was a large scale intervention, he says, with more than 18, people committing around , random acts of "wildness", framed not as a public health intervention, but rather a fun campaign to take part in.

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View image of Challenge with simple and fun activities credit: According to Dr Richardson there is already research evidence that exposure to nature can reduce hypertension abnormally high blood pressure , respiratory tract and cardiovascular illnesses; improve vitality and mood; benefit issues of mental wellbeing such as anxiety; and restore attention capacity and mental fatigue. But more than that, feeling a part of nature has been shown to significantly correlate with life satisfaction, vitality, meaningfulness, happiness, mindfulness, and lower cognitive anxiety.

And, he adds, recent analysis found people with a stronger connection to nature experienced more life satisfaction, positive affect and vitality at levels associated with established predictors of satisfaction, such as personal income. The real challenge for the future is how we get more people involved, knowing what we do about the very real benefits of nature.

View image of Contact help people feel closer to nature credit: Human response includes increased awe, greater relaxation, restored attention, and boosted vitality. Health outcomes on the receiving end of the pathway are astounding: We know less about response to tropical environments or desert environments. Private river permits are managed by resource agencies through highly competitive web-based lotteries. Similarly shinrin-yoku, once known only as such in Japan, is growing in popularity in the West.

Trainings for certified guides, taught all over the world, fill well in advance, despite sometimes-steep certification and membership fees.

What's so different about nature?

W hat drives our search for nature immersion? Susan Karle, a California-based certified forest therapy guide and long-time licensed marriage and family therapist, says: Karle might invite them to find stones to hold their worries for the day, then to toss them into a nearby creek.

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One of her clients had suffered great trauma following a death in the family, leading to a crushing sense of isolation and depression. Being in nature with a trusted group helped speed her process so she graduated from therapy in less than a year.

When she said she felt she was done, I said: Being in nature with a variety of species can help maintain a healthy microbiome of essential skin and gut bacteria. That sense of nature as outside of us prevails mostly in the West; Eastern-based mindfulness practices and meditative traditions align more closely with human oneness with nature. We had to rely on our senses, our intuition, and our responses in order to find food, water, shelter — the absolutely important things.

We hunted or grew our food; we carried it back to the tribe. In addition, immersion in environmental biodiversity — being in nature with a variety of species — has been shown to help maintain a healthy microbiome of essential skin and gut bacteria. And because of the sterility of some of our cities, with no parks and no trees, without that inoculation of nature, children are set back. But even in cities, we can intervene: Even necessary systems such as storm-water infrastructure, designed to handle storm runoff and overflow, can also be designed to heal.

Imagine a storm-water system with a second function as a natural habitat, complete with running water, vegetation, microbial life and a whole host of diversity, all geared to enhance human wellness. Colorado River guides know that nature enhances our physical and mental lives.