December 15th

By Mutt Mulligan

5 reasons to consider ecotherapy

Have you heard of ecotherapy? It’s a growing trend in medicine where doctors are turning to Vitamin N(ature) over a prescription to treat a host of mental and physical health issues. It combines nature walks with therapy sessions to “absorb” the sights and sounds of living landscapes.

You can read about one woman’s inspiring ecotherapy treatment here.

TurfMutt knows about the power of plants for health and happiness – for people, pets and our planet. Here is even more proof why nature is good medicine, whether you take a “dose” in your own backyard, your neighborhood park, or other public green space.

• Spending time hiking in a natural setting – and disconnecting from technology – increased creativity by 50%, according to a study published by PLOS | One.
• University of Essex scientists discovered that 9 out of 10 people felt less depressed after walking through a park.
• A recent study from researchers in Canada indicates living in a greener neighborhood could lower the risk of early death.
• People who live within a half mile of green space were found to have a lower incidence of 15 diseases by Dutch researchers — including depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and migraines.
• Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the 1 in 3 American kids who are obese get fit.