Nature therapy takes a wide variety of forms. It can include horticultural therapy (gardening), animal-assisted therapy (equine therapy or dolphin therapy) and other approaches. Gardening is one of the most popular types of ecotherapy in the world.
What is Nature Therapy?
ature therapy, also known as ecotherapy, is a term for healthcare treatments that focus on spending time outdoors and experiencing nature. Ecotherapy is part of a comprehensive plan of care to improve mental health under the guidance of a counselor.
Some aspects of nature therapy are well understood, but not all. For example, doctors have long known spending time in direct sunlight can help reduce the symptoms of depression.
What Conditions Can Nature Therapy Treat or Cure?
Nature therapy is mainly used to assist patients with mood disorders. Depression can be highly responsive to nature therapy. Some people with generalized anxiety have reported improvement in symptoms after nature therapy, too.
In recent years, nature therapy clinical research has focused on the possibility it can help manage chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Gardening, in particular, gives many participants a sense of personal satisfaction as they help plants grow.
Chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, and other conditions resistant to standard treatment have improved with nature therapy. Patients aged anywhere from early teens to elder have gotten benefits including healthier blood pressure, pulse rate, and stress hormone levels.
Many older people are drawn to nature therapy, especially gardening, to help them gain a peaceful mindset in later life. Gardening is one of many hobbies that can help retired people feel emotionally enriched.
What Research Currently Exists Around Nature Therapy?
In the last few years, clinical trials in nature therapy uncovered unexpected findings. Research in nature therapy has been of interest in Japan, where “forest-bathing” walks in the woods are highly prized.
Nature therapy induces activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, which activates when a person is at rest. This activity contributes to healthy equilibrium in brain and body, but is normally reduced by stress and physiological demands like digestion.
The evidence is growing for nature therapy. However, some types are still mysterious. For example, it is not understood why exposure to plants or flowers contributes to a feeling of well-being in most people, even though gardening has been used therapeutically since the 1940s.
Why Are Further Nature Therapy Clinical Trials Important?
Rigorous clinical studies in nature therapy must be designed and carried out to shed more light on areas where science does not yet explain observed behavior. This is especially important as increased urbanization makes it harder for many people to access natural landscapes.
Stress brought on by the workplace, technology, financial anxiety, and more is reaching levels many people find difficult to cope with. Nature therapy clinical trials could point the way toward natural and safe treatment approaches for common mental health concerns.
Just as importantly, nature therapy has the potential to help people at all stages of life. Everyone from elders facing end of life issues to youngsters coping with classroom bullying may benefit.
Current Nature Therapy Clinical Trials
These are the current nature therapy clinical trials on file at ClinicalTrials.gov. To have a clinical trial added to our website, simply contact our team.
- Summer Harvest Adventure: A Garden-based Obesity Prevention Program for Children Residing in Low-resource Communitieson May 10, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Childhood ObesityInterventions: Behavioral: Summer Harvest Adventure; Behavioral: My Summer Plate (MSP)Sponsors: Ohio State University; Nationwide Children's HospitalCompleted
- Garden of Life Once Daily Women's Probiotic: Vaginal pH and Quality of Life Studyon April 15, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Vaginal HealthInterventions: Dietary Supplement: Once Daily Women's Probiotic; Other: PlaceboSponsors: Garden of Life, LLC; Validcare, LLCRecruiting
- Virtual Therapeutic Garden for Depressive Symptomson March 17, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Depressive Symptoms; Depression; AnxietyInterventions: Behavioral: Group general fitness training; Behavioral: Group relaxation and psychoeduaction; Device: VRTierOneSponsors: University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw; Foundation for Senior Citizen Activation SIWY DYMNot yet recruiting
- Gardening Activities for the Elderly Psychological Well-Being and Depressionon February 25, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Condition: Elderly PersonIntervention: Other: Gardening ActivitiesSponsor: T.C. ORDU ÜNİVERSİTESİNot yet recruiting
- Study on the Influence of Forest Therapy on Healing Experience in Botanical Gardens.on February 8, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Condition: Nature, HumanIntervention: Behavioral: activities in the Botanical Garden or in urbanSponsor: Taipei City HospitalCompleted
- Effects of Enriched Gardens in Nursing Home Residents With Dementiaon May 26, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Alzheimer DiseaseIntervention: Other: INCENTIVE VISITING A GARDEN : ENRICHED OR CONVENTIONAL SENSORY GARDENSponsor: RIVAGESCompleted
- the PrEsentation, Rationale and Impact of reperFUSION for Acute Coronary Syndromes in Cape Town and the Garden Route Health District - the PERFUSION Registryon May 14, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Acute Coronary Syndrome; ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Unstable AnginaIntervention: Other: No Intervention - Observational RegistrySponsor: University of Cape TownRecruiting
- Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systemson April 29, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Pediatric Obesity; Sedentary BehaviorIntervention: Other: Garden installationSponsor: North Carolina State UniversityCompleted
- Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents (MEGA) Projecton March 9, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Condition: AnemiaInterventions: Other: School meal, garden, education, and community workshops; Other: Garden, education, and community workshopsSponsors: Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH); Africa Academy for Public Health; University of DodomaActive, not recruiting
- The Inner Garden and Care for Children With Moderate to Severe Agitationon October 30, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Child Behavior DisordersIntervention: Device: Inner GardenSponsors: Groupe Hospitalier de la Rochelle Ré Aunis; Ullo WorldCompleted
- Highlighting the Benefits of Therapeutic Gardens in Alzheimer's Disease by 18F-FDG Cerebral PET /CTon August 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Condition: Alzheimer DiseaseIntervention: Device: cerebral 18F-FDG PET-CTSponsor: Central Hospital, Nancy, FranceNot yet recruiting
- Southwest Harvest for Health Vegetable Gardening Interventionon January 31, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Condition: Cancer SurvivorIntervention: Behavioral: home-based, mentored vegetable gardening programSponsors: University of New Mexico; University of New Mexico Cancer Center; New Mexico State UniversityCompleted
Conclusion
Humans have spent only about 0.01% of their entire evolutionary history living in modern towns and cities. Evidence is mounting that healthy responses to certain parts of nature are hardwired into the brain and body. With further research, this could lead to a complete change in how doctors and patients tackle tough mental health questions. If you are interested in learning about clinical studies near more, click through.
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201608/nature-therapy
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997467/
- https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/the-rise-of-nature-based-therapy-to-support-mental-health-20190424-p51gw8.html
- https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/03/health/sw-horticultural-therapy/index.html
- https://www.ahta.org/horticultural-therapy