Connecting with nature improves overall health, and science backs it up

If France has not yet implemented it, Canada or even Australia have already started prescribing natural cures to improve the mental and physical health of their patients. A greening that would seem to bear fruit given that this method was the subject of a recent study, carried out by Australian researchers and published in The Lancet’s planetary health. The latter claims that after this “cure” the patients would have reduced blood pressure and a lower level of anxiety/depression.

“Evidence shows that natural prescriptions can help restore and build capacity for better physical and mental health. What we need now is to figure out how to ensure these can be used sustainably for people with a high potential to benefit from them, but who currently spend little time in nature.”Professor Feng said.

But other virtues are also associated with this green parenthesis. According to the study authors, this method could they help prevent isolation problems, depression but also the onset of cardiovascular disease. It must be said that one of the studies (conducted on more than 47,000 adults) and used by the team of Australian researchers showed that those who lived in wooded areas had better general health and reduced psychological distress…

A precise study still in progress

If researchers have now established that it is important to reconnect with nature, the questions still remain unanswered. How long should these natural cures last? Should they, in the most extreme cases, be supplemented by a medical prescription? Will they be paid or free for the less well-off? All these questions will be the subject of concrete studies to give all the keys to the governments of the different countries to create national programs. In any case, this is what Professor Feng intends to do:

“ If we want Nature Prescriptions to become a national program, we really need to provide the evidence.”.

Green recipes dedicated to everyone

If green prescriptions are currently only present in some countries, it is possible that others such as France will learn of its interest in health. But Professor Xiaoqi Feng does not want this solution to be accessible only to the wealthiest populations. He explains :

“ We do not want green prescriptions to be a luxury item for the wealthy who already have access to beaches and many high-quality green spaces. We want these benefits for everyone. »

So far, previous research by the study groups has concluded this low-income communities are generally more at risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes because they have less access to green spaces. Let’s hope that changes…