NATURE REALLY IS GOOD MEDICINE. SCIENCE CAN EXPLAIN WHY.

An article by Stacey Colino in National Geographic’s magazine in 2023 shows that well-formed research explains how being in natural environment benefits people’s physical and mental well-being. 

According to research, there are two key aspects, of how nature benefits the human mind and body. 

First, research finds that nature has what is called a restorative element. The restorative element of nature is closely related to its ability to draw humans’ involuntary attention. Marc Berman, an environmental neuroscientist, proposes that exposure to nature helps relieve mental fatigue and improves the ability to focus. He says that is because human has what they called involuntary attention. Invlountary attention is a stage when people atracted to interesting things in the environment without being tired. The other element is that green and blue spaces can enhance what scientists call ‘soft fascination’ – a term that refers to an unthreatening and pleasant experience without draw our full attention. Apart from that, research also found a hyphotesis called biophilia. 

According to that theory, nature can raise our awareness of our natural connection with our environment. The second key aspect why nature has restorative effects is its ability to relieve the human senses. Research finds that observing natural fractals can cause more alpha wave activity in our brain. That mechanism can relax our minds without reducing our attention. The sounds of birds, animals, rivers, and wind also have a significant impact on our bodies. Those natural sounds are associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and decreased pain. Because of those benefits, the author says that it is important to always have a good connection with the natural world and make it as an natural prescription for our health.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/power-blue-green-spaces-health-well-being-mental-health