Natural Well-being By Rachel Mary Carr
There is scientific evidence which proves stepping out into nature for some mindful moments improves your mental health and well-being. If you are feeling low or anxious, surrounding yourself with nature lowers stress levels and improves your mood. Here are some tips on how to harness the natural world to rebalance the mind and body. Walking amongst trees and plants will decrease blood pressure as we inhale phytoncides, these are chemicals emitted by the plant, that reduce the stress hormone cortisol which causes anxiety and depression. Scientists have found that when people spend a few hours in forests, woods, parks and other places with trees, they experience increased immune function. The Japanese practice of visiting these natural surroundings for therapeutic reasons is known as shinrin yoku – forest bathing, and it has mental, physical and spiritual health benefits. When walking through the woods, or whatever your chosen path may be, look closely at the leaf veins to achieve a relaxing effect. These botanical details are called fractals, a repeated geometric motif, which lights up the same areas of the brain as listening to music. Snail shells and the outline of trees against the sky have them too, even in the autumn/winter months when the leaves have fallen. Outdoor life can be a very sensory experience and it is not only what we see that has an effect on our well-being. Take a handful of soil, with its billions of microorganisms and Mycobacterium vaccae, and inhale. It causes cytokine levels to rise, which will stimulate the serotonin neurons in your brain responsible for regulating your mood, improving happiness and anxiety. This is exactly how antidepressants work, although nature’s pharmaceutical is not a substitute for prescribed medication. Being near the sea, rivers or lakes, or even ponds and fountains, can help you relax as stress falls away due to the sound of water decreasing cortisol production. MRI scans have shown activity in our brains move away
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