Eco-Therapy - Tool To Connect With Nature

With people getting used to life post Pandemic, they are now prudently aware of nature-therapy or eco-therapy and its benefits.

“Eco-therapy strengthens our bond with environment and nature." It is enormously beneficial for our health physically and mentally.

Due to the crisis situation caused by Pandemic there has been an increase in suffering from psychological distress with increased levels of anxiety, stress, depression etc. Eco-therapy or nature-therapy is extremely helpful and therapeutic especially for such people.

A Japanese practice of nature therapy is called as, "forest bathing or shinrin-yoku". In Japanese, “shinrin” implies for forests and “yoku” is bathing. Yoshifumi Miyazaki, a nature-therapy expert, found that people who spent near to an hour walking in a forest have lower levels of hormones related to stress, including adrenaline. So for psychological relaxation the best thing one can do is spend some time in forests or any green area.

Another researcher, Dr. Qing Li, found that trees and plants emit aromatic compounds called phytoncides that, when inhaled, can spur healthy biological changes in a manner similar to aromatherapy, which has also been studied for its therapeutic benefits. It promotes better cardiovascular health, enhances body’s defences to grow and repair blood vessels, helps prevent onset of various diseases like cancer, diabetes, attention disorders etc.

Affinity for nature is something that is deeply inherent in all of us. We share our existence on Earth and it's ecosystems with plants, trees and animals. Nature is embedded within us. Just a spark is needed to ignite the affiliation.

Exposure to greenery, or even just merely observing it, helps us in reducing anger, anxiety and stress. The green effect has a soothing effect on our physical and mental health.

There is actually a dire need to break the shackles, to get out of the concrete jungles created around us due to rapid urbanisation. Going out in forests or a green area would rejuvenate the depressed spirits of a person burdened with complexities, anxiety and stress.

Loneliness and depression, haunts most of us, perhaps due to the increase in complexity in relationships and stress. Lonely and distressed thoughts are bound to decline in the green company of plants and trees.

Elevated levels of anxiety and stress have been a major cause of health problems. Nature has plentiful to reduce our stress and anxiety. For this we just need to spend some time outside amidst nature.

The time one needs to be with nature varies for people depending upon their lifestyle and daily routine. Where some people go regularly for a morning walk in a green environment, some prefer walking to their office or back, some tale a walk during break time, some go out for a holiday in nature's paradise, some go for a trek in the forest. Sometimes just looking at the greenery around through the window also helps.

How one spends time outside also varies. Some have a strenuous jog, some go for a leisurely stroll, some engage in outdoor sporting activities, some practice nature yoga. Infact gardening is one activity that is very healthy and beneficial for mental health. Away from technology, immersing one's hand in soil and engaging in a productive environment friendly activity, if one takes this up at regular intervals it can be a life-changing practice.

Besides, I always promote and suggest passionate nature lovers to have 'green-friends'. Make a tree or a shrub or a plant or a flower, your friend. Talk with it, share your thoughts, especially the ones which you would not share with anyone else. Notice the soothing affect post sharing. It would be as if a big burden has been laid off.

Even hearing to natural sounds is a part of Eco-therapy. Try listening to the breeze, or the wind blowing on a hill top, the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, pitter-patter of rain drops, the sounds made by insects. Some of the insects are called 'singing insects', for the sounds they produce. Cicadas are known for their buzzing sound in day time, which often rises and falls in both pitch and volume. Crickets make chirping sound in the night while grasshoppers sing in the day.

These days medical practitioners too have been frequently advising for Eco-therapy or Nature-therapy. The patients are suggested to spend time amidst natural environment, engage in green activities and to keep away from technology sometimes. A regular few minutes of spending time outside in nature, or 'Eco-therapy', has proven to be a better remedy than having pills for most.