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Nature therapy, sometimes referred to as ecotherapy, describes a broad group of techniques or treatments with the intention of improving an individual's mental or physical health, specifically with an individual's presence within nature or outdoor surroundings.[1] It is broader term than related forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku, describes the practice that combines a range of exercises and tasks in an outdoor environment. Garden therapy, horticultural therapy, Kneipp therapy or even ocean therapy may be viewed as forms of nature therapy.
Contents
- 1 Health Effects
- 2 History and Background
- 3 Forms of Nature (Eco) Therapy
- 3.1 Adventure Therapy
- 3.2 Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI)
- 3.3 Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
- 3.4 Care Farming
- 3.5 Ecotherapy (referring to a strict definition of this term)
- 3.6 Environmental Conservation (Green Gyms)
- 3.7 Green Exercise Therapy
- 3.8 Nature Arts and Crafts
- 3.9 Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH)
- 3.10 Wilderness Therapy
- 4 Reasons for the Success of the Practice
- 5 Limitations
- 6 See also
- 7 References
Health Effects
Physician Recommendations and Characteristic Effects
However, many individual studies do promote health benefits of forest therapy or forest bathing.[2] In general, many medical practitioners recommend a presence in the outdoors, as spending time outdoors is thought to provide relief from ailments like depression, stress, or anxiety.[3]
It is thought that engaging in nature therapy can improve your overall state of relaxation, provide practitioners with a new sense of self or alternative perspective, and more.[1]
Nature therapy can reduce the following factors: stress or anxious sensations, anger, and depression or depressive attitude.[1] Nature therapy can increase factors such as a person's overall sense of self-esteem or confidence and what can be defined as emotional resilience.[1]
Some less-commonly-known benefits to a person's health are as follows:
- stimulation and activation of the five senses
- removal of feelings of overwhelming fatigue
- allowance of mental recuperation from a surgery or other medical procedure
- staunching symptoms of post-traumatic stress
- decreasing of mentality associated with eating disorders[4]
A Notable Study
Based on a study completed by Dr. Gregory Bratman with outdoor walkers, it was found that the walkers taking course in a more natural, less industrialized area exhibited an evident amount of decreased activity in the part of the human brain known as the subgenual prefrontal cortex.[5] This is significant, as this portion of the brain is commonly associated with dwelling on and rethinking the same issue.[5] Typically associated with susceptibility to mental illness and depressive attitudes, high levels of this type of brain activity in which a person thinks about the same thing on a reoccurring basis can be very harmful and mentally overwhelming.[5] As a result, decreased activity levels in the subgenual prefrontal cortex as a result of nature walking can be considered beneficial to a person's mental well-being.[5]
History and Background
Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) literally means forest bathing, originated in Japan in the early 1980s and may be regarded as a form of nature therapy.[6][7] In Japan, Shinrin-yoku has become established across all prefectures with more than 60 Forest Therapy Camps by the end of 2016.[8]
In the late 1990s a pseudo-scientific variant called earthing or grounding started to be marketed, under the notion that the earth functions as an electrical ground for people and that touching the earth provides an array of health benefits based on an incorrect understanding of antioxidant activity.[9] The idea providing a foundation for nature therapy can be traced back to an origin of people's faith in nature's apparent power to heal. [4] For years, people have been participating in and initiating the practice of honoring Earth and nature, in a holistic manner.[4]
Howard Clinebell coined the term "ecotherapy" in 1996.[3]
Researching scientists during the 1950s decided to look into the reasoning behind why so many people chose to spend time in nature, with special reference to notorious locations like national parks.[10]
Forms of Nature (Eco) Therapy
The following terms, listed in alphabetical order, are considered forms of nature therapy or programs commonly associated with nature therapy:[1]
Adventure Therapy
- Great to clear the mind
- characterized by usually strenuous or physically-demanding activities focused on psychological support
- group activities in the outdoors that focus on teamwork, building trust, and confidence [1]
Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI)
- less structured than Animal Assisted Therapy
- characterized by spending non-stressful time with animals in places like a farm
- can assist people with issues related to mobility, coordination, stress, etc. [1]
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
- more structured than Animal Assisted Interventions
- characterized by spending formal and guided time with animals
- includes developing a strong and therapeutic bond between patient and animal [1]
Care Farming
- characterized by working on farms and caring for the animals on the farms
- length of work varies depending on the day and location[1]
Ecotherapy (referring to a strict definition of this term)
- the formal process of strengthening a relationship between patient and nature
- a licensed therapist guides patients through sessions or activities
- activities will reconnect the patient with nature
- some therapies can include talking treatment or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy[1]
Environmental Conservation (Green Gyms)
- a therapeutic combination of exercise (physical) and working with conservation efforts
- characterized by providing care and protection for natural habitats and other locations[1]
Green Exercise Therapy
- characterized by partaking in activities in an outdoor space
- examples would include walking, running, outdoor yoga, hiking, etc. and can be done at varying paces[1]
Nature Arts and Crafts
- characterized by using nature in several artistic capacities, including, but not limited to:
- using nature-based materials for pieces, such as soil, wood, rocks, leaves, etc.
- using nature as an inspiration to complete pieces
- using nature as an artistic space in which to complete pieces[1]
Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH)
- working individually or in small groups to garden or grow food
- can occur in many places, and may be instructed by an experienced tutor or horticulturist[1]
Wilderness Therapy
- different from being in a typical and more well-known outdoor space, as patients are directly in the wilderness
- completed in a group, with activities like group hikes, team-building exercises, assembling outdoor shelters with limited materials, etc.[1]
Reasons for the Success of the Practice
While there are other forms of therapy that can be successful in helping with issues related to mental health, nature therapy is thought to be helpful to patients due to four main principles: natural and social connectivity, stimulation of the senses, activities (or exercise), and an escape from reality.[11]
Nature is considered a complex system of outdoor elements that will persist without a designated amount of intervention.[12] Humans, as they realize that they are part of this larger system of natural order, gain a reformed sense of belonging and contribution, and this could perpetuate their participation in the practice.[12] Practitioners of nature therapy are able to connect with a form of himself/herself that is considered more genuine or legitimate, as well as primordial.[4]
Limitations
A 2012 systematic review study showed inconclusive results related to methodological issues across the literature.[13] Subsequently, a 2017 systematic review of the benefits of spending time in forests demonstrated positive health effects, but not enough to generate clinical practice guidelines or demonstrate causality.[14] Additionally, there are concerns from researchers expressing that time spent in nature as a form of regenerative therapy is highly personal and entirely unpredictable; in fact, the nature can be harmed in the process of human interaction.[10]
See also
- Outdoor education - sometimes referred to 'wilderness education' is organized learning that takes place in the outdoors.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Making Sense of Ecotherapy" (PDF).
- ^ "森林セラピー総合サイト". 森林セラピー®総合サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ a b Sorgen, Carol. "Nature Therapy (Ecotherapy) Medical Benefits". WebMD. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
- ^ a b c d "Ecotherapy | The Earthbody Institute". Retrieved 2019-04-05.
- ^ a b c d "Nature Therapy". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
- ^ Hansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K (July 2017). "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (8): 851. doi:10.3390/ijerph14080851. PMC 5580555. PMID 28788101.
- ^ Kuo M (2015-08-25). "How might contact with nature promote human health? Promising mechanisms and a possible central pathway". Frontiers in Psychology. 6: 1093. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01093. PMC 4548093. PMID 26379564.
- ^ "森林セラピー総合サイト". 森林セラピー®総合サイト.
- ^ Novella, Steven (May 2012). "Earthing". NEUROLOGICAblog. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ a b MacKinnon, J. B. (2016-01-21). "The Problem with Nature Therapy". Nautilus. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
- ^ "Ecotherapy: The Green Agenda for Mental Health" (PDF). Mind.
- ^ a b www.crchealth.com https://www.crchealth.com/find-a-treatment-center/struggling-youth-programs/help/nature-is-therapeutic/. Retrieved 2019-03-27. Missing or empty
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(help) - ^ Kamioka, H; Tsutani, K; Mutoh, Y; Honda, T; Shiozawa, N; Okada, S; Park, SJ; Kitayuguchi, J; Kamada, M; Okuizumi, H; Handa, S (2012). "A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on curative and health enhancement effects of forest therapy". Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 5: 85–95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S32402. PMC 3414249. PMID 22888281.
- ^ Oh, B; Lee, KJ; Zaslawski, C; Yeung, A; Rosenthal, D; Larkey, L; Back, M (18 October 2017). "Health and well-being benefits of spending time in forests: systematic review". Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 22 (1): 71. doi:10.1186/s12199-017-0677-9. PMC 5664422. PMID 29165173.