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healing benefits of nature
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Ecotherapy: The Health Benefits of Nature

Katie WellsAug 9, 2017Updated: Mar 8, 2022
Reading Time: 6 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Health » Ecotherapy: The Health Benefits of Nature
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • The Benefits of Ecotherapy+−
    • Mental Benefits
    • Heart & Stress Benefits
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Sleep Improvements & Longevity
  • How Time Outdoors Makes Us Healthier+−
    • Vitamin D
    • Exercise
    • Grounding
    • Fresh Air
    • Eye Health
    • Healthy Circadian Rhythm
  • Ecotherapy: Best Way to Get the Benefits of Nature?

We’ve all craved nature at some time or another. Maybe it was the white sands of a beach (and the accompanying health benefits) that we longed for, or the calmness of a mountain camping trip.

Perhaps we look forward to a hike in the woods, or a canoe trip on a river… whatever our preferences, we all desire nature at some point, and with good reason.

The Benefits of Ecotherapy

It seems intuitive that we like to spend time outdoors, but science has now identified some of the reasons we actually NEED time in a more natural setting. In fact, there is a term for this, Ecotherapy, that refers to the various physical and psychological benefits of being outside.

Mental Benefits

A 2009 study found that the closer someone lived to a green space or nature area, the healthier that person was likely to be. In fact, those who lived closest to a park, nature preserve or wooded area were less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.

Heart & Stress Benefits

Another study found that those who spent time hiking or resting in a forest had measurably lower cortisol rates, heart rates and blood pressure. (1)

ADD & ADHD

The University of Illinois conducted research that showed that children with ADD/ADHD experienced a reduction of symptoms after spending time outdoors (this ties in with a less well-studied theory that these disorders are at least partially “nature deficit disorders:”

In their most recent study, conducted on a nationwide scale, psychologists Andrea Taylor and Frances Kuo have found that children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD, experienced a significant reduction in symptoms after they participated in activities in green settings. Whatever the activity—whether it was playing basketball or reading a book—the degree of relief from ADHD symptoms was tied to the greenness of the setting in which it took place, with relatively green settings like tree-lined streets, backyards and parks trumping the indoors or outdoor places that lacked greenery.(2)

Of course, just spending time in nature won’t be a silver bullet for children struggling with ADD/ADHD, but spending some (free!) family time outdoors is worth a try.

Sleep Improvements & Longevity

Other studies have found sleep improvements, better immune system function, and lower rates of stress related disorders in those who spent regular time in nature.

All of these factors may be reasons that regular gardeners live longer and that the practice of “forest bathing” (spending time in the forest) has become popular in Japan and is even prescribed and covered by medical plans in some cases. (3)

So why is nature so important?

There are several factors that may contribute to the health benefits (though the true benefit may remain an intangible that we can instinctively feel but not explain)…

How Time Outdoors Makes Us Healthier

Have you ever been cooped up indoors for an extended period of time and just felt the need to get outside? Turns out there some health reasons for this craving, including:

Vitamin D

One reason time outdoors may contribute to health is the exposure to Vitamin D producing sunlight. This vital pre-hormone is responsible for many aspects of health throughout the body.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various types of cancer and obesity, as well as mental disorders and other health problems.

Though supplemental Vitamin D is available, some people don’t absorb it effectively (like me) and actually need sun exposure to get adequate Vitamin D.

Either way…spending time outdoors in moderate sun is a great way to get natural Vitamin D.

Exercise

Unless your version of spending time in nature involves driving into the woods and just sitting there, most nature experiences also include some form of exercise.

From rock climbing, swimming, hiking, an canoeing, most forms of outdoor activity also include movement.

We all know the benefits of exercise, yet most of us still aren’t getting enough exercise regularly. Spending time outdoors provides a chance for fun movement along with the other benefits of nature.

Since we should all be moving each day anyway, get the double benefit and get your exercise outdoors!

Grounding

This benefit of nature is somewhat controversial in modern medicine, and my post about it has gotten a wide range of comments, from those who swear by the benefits of grounding to those who insist it is completely made up.

The basic theory is that since many of us don’t come into direct skin contact with the Earth very much, a positive charge can build up in the body. Direct skin contact with the Earth acts as a “ground” just like it does for electrical outlets, reducing this extra positive charge.

Proponents of earthing report that it helps reduce inflammation in the body and improve sleep quality.

Whatever your opinion of earthing/grounding, it is another positive side effect of being outdoors, especially barefoot or swimming in a natural body of water.

Can’t Get Outdoors?

There are ways to get the benefits of grounding indoors with earthing mats or sheets.

Fresh Air

Indoor air is often up to 70 times more contaminated than outdoor air. With more air-tight insulation, windows and doors, and the plethora of chemicals and plastics we bring into our homes, most people come in contact with up to 6,000 chemicals regularly.

Spending time outdoors is a break from indoor air pollution and outdoor air may have additional benefits as well.

Outdoor air is a good source of beneficial negative ions and places like the beach and near waterfalls are especially good sources. These negative ions are also present in sunlight and after a thunderstorm, when you can smell the “freshness” in the air. Indoor air, by contrast, is deficient in negative ions and is often dry and contaminated.

Negative ions are referred to as “nature’s antidepressants” and are found to have a relaxing and healing effect.

Stuck indoors? Try these tips to help improve indoor air quality or consider getting some air-improving houseplants.

Eye Health

This is an often surprising benefit of spending time outdoors, and an increasingly important one.

We are seeing an increase in vision problems, especially in children. One possible reason is the amount of time that many of us spend looking at a computer or TV screen on a daily basis.

While children used to spend most of their time outdoors looking at a wide variety of colors, levels of brightness and depths, they now spend up to seven hours a day starting at a TV, computer or tablet screen with artificial light. The result is an increase in nearsightedness, even in kids who aren’t genetically predisposed to it.

In fact, a study done in 2007 found that children who spent at least 2 hours a day outside were four times less likely to be nearsighted.(4) For children, this has especially dire consequences. The researchers speculated that bright outdoor light helps children develop the correct distance between retina and lens and leads to better eyesight later in life. Since indoor lighting does not provide the same benefit, children who spend a lot of time indoors are much more likely to have vision problems later in life.

Staring at a screen can also lead to eye fatigue, headaches, neck or back problems and other problems in adults.

Healthy Circadian Rhythm

Spending time outdoors, especially in morning sunlight, may help reduce the risk of obesity. In fact, a study at Northwestern University found that the earlier a study participant got morning sunlight, the lower than participant’s BMI.

This correlation remained strong even after researchers adjusted for exercise levels, age, calorie intake and other factors that affect BMI. The reason? Getting sunlight in the morning helps keep cortisol levels and circadian rhythms in the right ranges.

The reverse correlation was also true, as exposure to light at night was a factor in gaining weight (another reason to make sure you have a dark sleep environment),  but as little as half an hour of sun exposure before noon was enough to have an effect on reducing body weight.

This effect is so pronounced, in fact, that my doctor recommended morning sunlight exposure as part of my protocol to help improve my cortisol levels and thyroid health.

Does indoor light work?

Bright morning light outdoors is typically thousands of “lux” a measure of illuminance that is essentially one lumen per square meter. Indoor light is typically only measures a few hundred lux and doesn’t contain the broad spectrum of light needed to correctly support the body’s internal clock.

While things like 10,000 lux energy light lamps get closer to the level of outdoor brightness and are often used in the winter by those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, nothing beats the benefits of nature with true sunshine.

Ecotherapy: Best Way to Get the Benefits of Nature?

As you can tell, there are a lot of factors that may contribute to the benefits of nature, but we still may never understand completely why spending time outdoors has such profound psychological and physiological effects. We do know that time outdoors is important and that we aren’t getting enough.

There are things we can do to get partial benefits, but the best (and least expensive) option is just to get outside… in the morning… near trees.

My Solution?

Take a long morning walk on a greenway near our home where there are plenty of trees, wildflowers and even a small waterfall. I sometimes take my children on these walks, or I encourage them to spend time outdoors in the morning as well.

Gardening is another great way to get time outdoors, and spending time watering plants in the morning is a great way to get morning sunlight.

Find a way to spend some time outdoors each day (walking in the woods if you can!) and take your family with you. Need some motivation? Cue photo…

Ahhh…

How being outside makes you healthier

How do you get the benefits of nature?

Category: Health

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (17 Comments)

  1. Kenny Knowles

    February 1, 2020 at 7:07 PM

    Early Sunlight,Low Carbs,wild caught fish,Grass fed beef,Light exercise,intermitten fasting,Clean cool water,
    Deep sleep are all keys to a long healthy life.I would add of all these ,the body will begin to break down with body
    awarenes that it is of no more use in keeping the human spiecies alive and well,
    Therefore keep your body sexually active anyway you can,it matters not how.The human will utilize all of these
    great habits to keep our immune system functioning to the max

    Reply
  2. Emma

    November 10, 2019 at 10:07 PM

    This is great, thank you. It’s also a great way to educate kids (and adults) about green initatives; planting trees, picking up rubbish at the park or beach, and using only reusable or recyclable items along the way. It’s amazing how important and what a difference it makes to educate kids early about going green and how we impact the environment.

    Reply
  3. Maria

    January 10, 2019 at 7:56 AM

    What a great, well researched post. I really enjoyed reading it. Having moved to the city recently, I can personally testify to the negative effects to my health with less time in nature. Great post! Thank you.

    Reply
  4. David Hernandez

    August 4, 2018 at 2:27 PM

    If only psychiatrist would use nature instead of drugs, more people would be helped. How much can they bill insurance agencies for a walk?

    Reply
  5. Gail

    October 26, 2017 at 9:13 PM

    In the 1987, when 32 I decided to hike on foot, a woman alone walking from Mexico to Oregon on the PCT. It was 45 days in nature, 1700 miles. At the time I was disheartened with local business and my lack of spiritual fortitude.
    It was a wonderful trip, very different than I’d expected, which dramatically changed my life. I was fortunate to have well planed the trip with food caches mailed ahead along the way. I experienced being very intune with nature and animals. I never wanted for anything and if so, it would show up within a few hours on the trail.

    Reply
  6. Lucille King

    September 6, 2017 at 8:19 AM

    Hi, why do you have Hashimoto’s? Try a natural cure. I had an underactive thyroid and I had a goitre with three nodules, one was 1cm in diameter and pressed on my windpipe, so I had to push it out of the way with my finger in order to get a clear breath. I was sleeping 12-14 hrs/day and wiped out all the time. I was packing on weight, it slows your metabolism by up to 60%. I went to the dr for diagnosis. Thyroid is controlled by iodine. Underactive thyroid is lack of iodine. I took purple seaweed tablets. I took 3 (one a day) and no longer had to use my finger jammed in my throat to get a clear breath. I kept taking them and in 3 months went back and all symptoms gone and was cleared of underactive thyroid. underactive thyroid has three babies: type II diabetes, poly cystic ovaries and breast cancer. do some research on you tube. you can take kelp tablets and stop drinking tap water because fluoride is a toxic poison, leaches calcium out of your teeth and bones and also fills the iodine receptors in the brain, then if you do have iodine in your diet, it can’t attach and flushes out.

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      September 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM

      Umm, that’s not actually true all the time: https://wellnessmama.com/13234/iodine-bad-for-thyroid/

      Reply
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