Vitamin Tree

DOCTOR’S ORDERS:

THE MEDICAL MOVEMENT TO PRESCRIBE NATURE

All around the world, the medical profession is beginning to wake up to the measurable health benefits of spending time in nature. But will a nature prescription ever catch on here in Hong Kong? Carla Thomas investigates.

Imagine going to see your doctor about a health problem, and rather than receiving a litany of unpronounceable medications, being prescribed a long walk outdoors instead. This is slowly becoming a reality in doctors’ offices around the world, from Canada to America, Japan to the Shetland Islands. There’s an increasing body of scientific evidence that suggests that time spent in nature might actually be essential to keeping us well in the long run, something that we miss out on with increasingly urban and sedentary lifestyles. Medical experts are starting to pay attention to that data, and using their prescription pads to effect change by recommending patients get outside and reap the long-ignored benefits of the great outdoors.

WHY DO WE LOVE NATURE SO MUCH?

Kembali

Another evolutionary theory suggests that specific details of natural environments, like spatial openness, the presence of natural patterns or structures, and water, all actually reduce heightened stress responses brought on by modern environments - which evolutionarily speaking, are quite hostile for our bodies to exist in. The Stress Reduction Theory (Ulrich, 1983) explains why many of us find it so innately healing to be in nature. We all instinctively know getting outside is good for us, but it’s hard for most people to explain why that is. Sure, we feel better overall after some time spent in nature - but where does that come from, physiologically speaking?

Attention restoration theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) is a theory that’s often used to account for the positive effects of nature. The theory suggests that the environmental stimuli of nature actually allows us to recover from attention fatigue, something we frequently suffer from in our modern lives as a result of “the performance of cognitive tasks that require prolonged maintenance of directed attention.” Simply put, we’re spending a lot of time staring at our computers and mobile phones, an unnatural use of our cognitive faculties.

WHAT SCIENCE TELLS US

Kembali

Working with these theories, countless studies have been done to figure out exactly how we can make use of them - and as it turns out, the benefits are myriad. A 2009 study found that people who lived within a half mile of green areas had a lower incidence of 15 of the most common medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, asthma, migraines, anxiety and depression. A similar study from Harvard and Brigham and Women’s Hospital surveyed 108,000 women over eight years, and found that women who lived in or near green areas had a 12 percent lower death rate than those who didn't. Even if you don’t live near a green space, the benefits of getting outside on one’s health can still be harnessed. One study from Saarland University in Germany suggests that as little as 25 minutes of brisk walking per day can dramatically increase life expectancy by up to seven years.

And it’s not just the woods that do us good; there’s ample evidence that suggests that being

near the water also has therapeutic value. A 2013 study that used GPS and self-reports of wellbeing logged over smartphones found that marine and coastal locations were consistently correlated to higher measures of reported happiness.

Study after study points to nature having observable and measurable positive effects on our wellbeing, from reducing our cortisol (our stress hormone), increasing cerebral blood flow, even enlarging our hippocampus (our brain’s memory region) - all of which contribute to a holistically better health outcome for us than regularly staying inside.

22 Image credit: CAPE

CAPE

So how are doctors implementing the miracle cure of Mother Nature? Dr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver-based physician who has been a long-time advocate for the health benefits of being outdoors. After noticing a decline in her own health following a move from a rural town in British Columbia to an urban environment, Dr. Lem started to investigate the connection between green time and health. “When I moved back to my hometown Toronto to practise, despite having a less demanding job with fewer hours, I noticed that I felt more stressed and tired,” says Dr. Lem. “Especially when a streetcar would roll by my front window or I would walk the busy streets.” She says she quickly found that there was a body of research on the topic that has only gotten better and more compelling over time. This prompted her to make it her mission, conducting research, writing and communicating to the public about the importance of time in nature, eventually becoming a NATURE PRESCRIPTIONS, IN THE WILD

British Columbia isn’t the only province in Canada to attempt a wide-scale ecotherapy initiative. Ontario also offers Mood Walks, a provincial program that offers training and support for community mental health associations (CMHA) to launch educational walking programs for individuals suffering from mental health issues.

A representative from CMHA Ontario says that people with mental health issues tend to be more sedentary than the general population, which often leads to more serious health declines. Mood Walks advocates for green exercise - physical activity done outdoors instead of in your home or in a gym - as a proven means to alleviating depression and anxiety, as well as secondary symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.

Similar medically-backed initiatives are found in the UK’s Shetland Islands, where “nature prescriptions calendars” are handed out to patients by GPs; Japan, which has advocated shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) since the 80s; and even in the US. Park Rx America is a non-profit nationwide organisation that works with park managers and healthcare professionals to educate doctors on the benefits of prescribing nature as a preventative measure; nearly 500 “prescribers” have already signed on to that initiative. TAKING ROOT ALL OVER

board member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE). Last year, she was appointed as Director of Parks Prescriptions for the British Columbia Parks Foundation, a role in which she is responsible for planning and launching Canada’s first province-wide, and eventually national, nature prescription programme, called PaRx.

The initiative works with doctors and other healthcare providers to encourage prescribing time in nature to their patients, encouraging the health benefits of green time and - Lem hopes - a national movement.

“Along with CAPE and the BC Parks Foundation, I hope to make nature prescriptions go mainstream in Canada over the next few years, with doctors prescribing nature as often as they’re prescribing medication - it’s just a matter of getting the information out there, breaking down barriers and inspiring change.”

COMING TO HONG KONG SOON?

With its ample green spaces and access to water, Hong Kong seems perfectly equipped for nature prescriptions to take root. While they might not have caught on with doctors here yet, there are some resources that people can access if they want to selfmedicate on the great outdoors.

Jasmine Nunns is Hong Kong’s first certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide. Her company, Kembali, offers “restorative nature-based rewilding experiences” by leading groups through outdoors experiences like forest bathing and nature-based coaching. She believes that the city’s abundant wilderness has powerful healing properties that many Hongkongers could use as a powerful recovery tool from the onslaught of mega-urban life.

Kembali Kembali

“Living in such an urban environment, people can disconnect from their bodies and find themselves numbing or coping with the multiple ways in which we are bombarded with information and stimulation,” says Nunns.

She lists various health benefits, from lower blood pressure and improved sleep to better outcomes for patients suffering from ADHD or PTSD, all of which studies have shown can be induced by spending time in nature.

Despite the science, Nunns says she has yet to meet someone in Hong Kong who has received a nature prescription from their doctor - yet. She believes it’s only a matter of time before doctors here catch up with healthcare professionals in places like New Zealand, Japan or the UK, where one of her teachers ran an NHS-backed programme that used coastal walks to alleviate anxiety in patients.

“I think there will be a rise in recognition from the health industry to acknowledge the benefits of nature-based treatments from a physical and a psychological point of view,” she says. “But we have to remember that as much as nature-based therapies are on the rise, they are in no way a new prescription. Our ancestors would have had access and prioritised this relationship with the land, and seen it as a reciprocal relationship.”

GO NATURAL Hong Kong is blessed with an abundance of natural treasures, from hiking trails to beaches. Here are a few facilitators to help get you out and into the wild.

SHINRIN YOKU HONG KONG Japanese-style forest bathing, deeply rooted in a mindfulness practice. Facilitated by certified Forest Therapy Guide Amanda Yik. shinrinyokuhk.com KEMBALI Led by Jasmine Nunns, Kembali runs rewilding workshops, wild swimming events, forest therapy and other nature-based activities. kembali.com

ARK EDEN Located on Lantau, this nature-based organisation runs regular camps and day visits to learn all about nature in its “Forest School.” arkedenonlantau.org HONG KONG FOREST ADVENTURES From its base in Ma On Shan, this outdoor classroom immerses children in the natural world in child-led, play-based activities, whatever the weather. hongkongforestadventures.com

THE BACKYARD GANG Catching bugs… building fires… The Backyard Gang recreates rural childhoods with its immersive programmes that take kids into the great outdoors of Hong Kong. thebackyardgang.com

COLD PRESSED SKINCARE

You’re heard of cold-pressed oil and cold-pressed juice, but did you know that cold-pressing techniques - which preserve vital nutrients for maximum effectiveness - are the future of skincare too? RARE SkinFuel leads the charge.

Our botanical extracts are obtained through a new extraction technology called Cellular Extraction. Unlike traditional methods, which degrade the source material, this process works to preserve the plant as they exist in nature – pure, stable, and active for long periods of time.

In mass production processes, used by most skincare brands, extracts will be added immediately to the emulsion at its 70 degrees Celsius temperature to save on time and production costs. However, this essentially destroys the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients within the ingredients that are most vital to our skin.

At RARE SkinFuel, product efficacy is our number-one priority, which is why we allow our products to naturally cool down to 30 degrees before blending in our active botanical ingredients, using a new technology known as Cellular Extraction. This locks in all those vital nutrients and ensures maximum product potency. It is an expensive and time-consuming process, but when it comes to the quality of our product, we never compromise. The results are dramatic: skin readily absorbs the Australian Native Extracts - including Pentavitin, Aquarich, Marinova, Maritech and Fucoidan - leaving it happy, healthy and nourished, the active essences perfectly preserved thanks to RARE SkinFuel’s cold-pressing technology

WELL, WOULDN’T YOU KNOW

As the city gears up for Wellness Week Hong Kong, taking place from February 17-24, we take a closer look at what to expect from this celebration of wellbeing.

Hong Kong’s wellness scene is having a major moment. As citywide levels of stress, depression and burnout climb to an all-time high, an increasing number of us are waking up to the importance of physical and mental wellbeing, self-care and mindfulness as a way to restore balance in our lives. Organised by Liv Media (yes, us!), Wellness Week Hong Kong celebrates all things health, encouraging Hongkongers to get out, prioritise their wellbeing and experience the many amazing healthy activities the city has to offer, from spa treatments to workouts, skincare to dining and so much more. Dozens of the city’s top names in wellness and lifestyle have signed on to offer Wellness Week participants an exclusive deal or discount just for the event.

In addition to the deals, there will be special events taking place throughout Wellness Week, from workouts and day retreats to educational talks and seminars, that everyone is welcome to join.

Our charity partner for Wellness Week Hong Kong is Mind HK. Their mission is to raise awareness of mental health issues in Hong Kong, and to ensure that anyone facing a mental health problem is given the recognition, respect and support they need to make the best recovery possible. Wellness Week is proud to support mental health advocacy and awareness in Hong Kong.

Spa and Fitness at The Kerry Hotel

The vegan and gluten-free Revitalizing Menu at The Upper House

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Confirmed Partners

PLATINUM lululemon The Upper House Base Camp at The Kerry Hotel ClassPass Asaya

GOLD Aromatherapy Associates Switch & Co AIA Vitality Park Defin8 Fitness Options Studio Pilates Topfit Flo Jewellery

SILVER Beef & Liberty The ENTERTAINER Flex Studio Ozone Sense of Touch HIT45 Ursus Fitness Central Wellness Beyond Beauty Global Paul Gerrard

We’ve put all the offers into one handy place at wellnessweek.hk. From there, you can browse all the deals available; each brand has its own dedicated page outlining their offer. Redemption is organised directly by the vendors, so if you want to book, just follow the instructions on their page. The same goes for the events; take a look at which events you want to join on the website, and if you see something you like, just follow the instructions to RSVP directly with the organisers. WHO’S TAKING PART?

We are so excited to have an amazing lineup of partners onboard for Wellness Week. Here’s who’s confirmed so far, with more to come in the run-up to the event!