Nature is what we as humans were initially born into. We are connected to the elements more than we can often comprehend. When we escape our urban environment and embrace the natural world we are surrounded in fresh clean air, natural light and sunshine, the sounds of wildlife, water and wind, the scents of living and regenerating organic matter, and the beauty of a place and things we did not create and cannot re-create.

In the wilderness there are no cars, horns or traffic lights, no crowds, opinions or judgement, no push notifications, ringtones or pocket vibrations, no air conditioners or air fresheners. There are no lights at night (with exception to the moon and stars), and plenty natural scents, sounds, and sights in the day.

BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR THERAPY:

We have long known the health benefits of clean air, vitamin D production from sunlight, and exercise, but there is an increasing amount of research exposing ever more reasons why time spent in nature, or 'outdoor therapy', is essential to our physical and mental health. But this shouldn't be cutting edge science. It doesn't take a team of researchers to convince me that a walk in the forest or along the beach removes me from my devices and Wi-Fi, allows me to take time for myself, clears my mind, and helps me feel more calm and grounded. Just seeing the excitement in my dogs when we get to the park or beach is enough to convince me that nature is fun and awesome. Below I have gathered all the information I can find on how and why all the wonders of the great outdoors keep us happy and healthy.

THE AIR

• Phytoncides (volatile organic compounds and wood essential oils) emitted from trees and plants have been shown to increase our levels of white blood cells, increasing our immune system and helping us fight off infections and diseases.  
• Research shows that natural scents like roses, freshly cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed reducing depression and anxiety
• Nature provides abundant oxygen! More oxygen intake for our bodies means more serotonin, more white blood cells, improved concentration, and more energy
• One study suggests that spending 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to one cup of coffee
• Fresh air helps the airways of your lungs to dilate more fully and improves the cleansing action of your lungs. When you exhale you release toxins from your body

THE SUN

• Increasing your vitamin D levels is important, as there is evidence that many chronic diseases including cancer can be prevented by increasing levels of vitamin D3
• Vitamin D also fights infections as it regulates the expression of genes that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses
• Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium, preventing osteoporosis, and reduces inflammation
• While vitamin D can be found in some foods, we get more than 90% from exposure to sunlight
• Time in natural outdoor light is also a recommended treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (also known as “winter depression”). According to the Mayo Clinic: “Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help — especially if you spend some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning”
• Our circadian rhythms (the rise and fall of hormones cortisol and melatonin) are naturally tied to the sun’s schedule.  Spending too much time inside – away from natural light and with increased exposure to artificial light - can alter our circadian rhythms, (thus disrupting our sleep patterns)
• Being away from light pollution and being in the presence of natural dark skies as well as early morning sunlight has been shown to help regulate our bodies natural biological clock and re-calibrate sleep cycles

WATER

• Negative ions are natural antidepressants and are found in high levels near water. As such researchers are finding that walking trails beside water - such as lakes, river banks, or ocean shores - benefit emotional health
• Swimming or bathing in cool water dilates blood vessels which encourages the body to expel toxins and release feel good endorphins

EARTH

• "Grounding" or "earthing" is the act of walking or standing barefoot on the earth, whether it be soil, sand, mud, rock or grass, and even concrete, brick or ceramic tile (note: apparently wood, asphalt, tar, or any synthetic surfaces are not grounding). The theory states that because the earth is negatively charged and has a greater negative charge than your body we absorb earth’s electrons and allow the excess charge in your body to discharge into the earth.  The rubber soles of our shoes prevent this discharge and absorption from occurring.
• According to a study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, grounding can provide an abundant supply of antioxidant electrons and have an intense anti-inflammatory and energizing effect on the body.  Grounding has been shown to calm the sympathetic nervous system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, enhance wellbeing, and more.

MOVEMENT

• Exercise has long been known to improve memory loss, lower cortisol, reduce stress and anxiety, boost self-esteem, release endorphins, as well as lower the risk of many conditions such as stroke, heart disease, type II diabetes, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis (…the list goes on), but there is research showing that these benefits are greater when people exercise outside rather than indoors
• One meta-analysis of 10 studies found that physical activity outdoors for as little as five minutes leads to measurable improvements in mood and self-esteem
• Even a light walk can have immense health benefits, especially contrasted with sitting - which has been referred to as "the smoking of our generation". Sitting too much results in impaired fat burning capacity, decreased bone density, increased blood pressure, and a shortened lifespan
• A study conducted by Frances E Kup, PhD, and Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD, found that exposing children with ADHD to green outdoor activities reduces symptoms significantly. The results of this study suggest nature exposure can benefit anyone who has a difficult time paying attention and/or exhibits impulsive behavior

THE SOUNDS & STILLNESS

• Studies show we respond well to the sounds of nature and are negatively affected by excess noise of our urban surrounding
• According to a study from International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, nature sounds help us recover more quickly from psychological stress, help boost mood, and increase productivity
• According to David Strayer, Ph.D., a professor of Cognition and Neural Science at the University of Utah, "Modern multitasking overtaxes brain areas that are involved in suppressing distractions, thinking creatively, and developing a sense of identity." Strayer discovered that a mere four days backpacking in nature improved people’s creativity by 50%
• According to some psychologists, exposure to nature helps us "shrug off societal pressures", allowing us to remember and value more important things like relationships, sharing, and community

“The wilderness provides a peaceful and serene context in which to reconnect with oneself and with the world at large and to find direction amidst the challenges and hardships of life.— Open Sky Wilderness

If you are interested in learning more about the body's response to outdoor therapy and how to implement outdoor therapy into your daily life, click here to check out my blog post.