Nature can heal. Research shows that spending time around nature–both indoors and out– improves our mood, mitigates stress, boosts our self-confidence, positively impacts our physical health and therefore improves our wellbeing. Gardening specifically connects us to nature, allows us to see the bigger picture, and increases our feelings of happiness. When we garden, indoors and outdoors, our brain releases serotonin and dopamine–these are feel-good chemicals that help promote overall well being. In addition, soil contains Mycobacterium Vaccae which triggers the release of serotonin, a chemical that lifts our mood and reduces anxiety. In two recent studies, researchers had participants engage in two tasks–one of which being gardening. In one experiment, participants who spent time gardening reported a greater feeling of calm and comfortability when compared to participants who worked on a computer. In the other experiment, participants who gardened had lower cortisol levels when compared to participants who read instead of gardened. Cortisol levels show our physiological stress response in our body and it was clear that gardening helped to reduce stress. In a study conducted with children, researchers showed that children who were exposed to natural settings had significantly reduced symptoms of ADHD and students who were able to garden in school had higher test scores than those taught in a traditional classroom.
Plant therapy and gardening also has a significant positive impact on our physical health. Plants boost air quality, promote movement, and encourage healthy eating. Being around plants improves our air quality by almost 20%. Scientists have identified over 300 indoor air pollutants that plants help to remove. Gardening is a fun way to integrate movement and exercise into our daily routines and helps us improve our strength and motor skills. Additionally, studies show that we perceive homegrown vegetables as better tasting and more appealing because of the time and energy we used to grow them.
Be Curious! Start your plant journey with us at Let’s Grow: Plant Therapy on Wednesday February 16th at 6pm. Sign up on our website or the Mind Body App today!
References: Hillside. (2020, November 2). Psychological benefits of Plants & Horticulture therapy. Hillside. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from https://hside.org/plants-improve-mental-physical-health/