We all know that being in nature is good for our health and mental well-being. But how does it work its magic? For example, what explains the finding that after gallbladder surgery, people who had access to a verdant view from their hospital windows Recovered three times faster than those who could only look at a brick wall, and required far less pain medication?
It was this puzzle that led botanist Kathy Willis on her latest quest. The former scientific director of London’s Royal Botanic Gardens and current professor of biodiversity at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, says her discovery has changed her life. In her new book, Good natureShe explores a growing body of research revealing what happens in our brains and bodies when we interact with nature. We tend to think of ourselves as a visual species, but it turns out the benefits we get through our other senses — smell, sound, touch, and the mysterious “hidden senses” — are just as impressive, and sometimes even more so. There’s much more to discover, but as she says New Scientistwe have learned a lot that can improve our lives.
Kate Douglas: What happens when we observe nature?
Cathy Willis: It triggers different pathways in our body. Our Decreased heart rate and blood pressure, Decreased levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and our Brainwave activity Being more intense in certain areas shows that we are calmer and clearer-headed.
Are there certain “natural” colors we should be looking for?
When you look at these physiological indicators of calm, you’ll find Green white leavesand Yellow or white flowers…
