Nature reduces stress, anxiety, and pain. This is why doctors in Scotland are writing out prescriptions for nature walks and bird watching, and the Japanese are promoting forest bathing. However, you don’t have to go to parks to benefit from nature; just listening to nature’s sounds or filling your home with mood-boosting plants could have the same effect.
A recent study, conducted by researchers from Michigan State University, Carleton University, and Colorado State University, and the US National Park Service, analyzed 18 previous studies on how natural soundscapes can positively affect human health.
In the lab, the researchers studied audio tracks recorded at 221 sites across 68 national parks in the US. Their results, published on April 6, 2021, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that listening to natural sounds decreases stress and pain, improves cognitive function and mood, increases concentration, and more.
In addition, the research sheds light on precisely which sounds were the most beneficial. For example, listening to birds and the trickling of a running stream was the most effective at lowering stress and annoyance.
The researchers found that the more people visited national parks to reap the health benefits, the more those natural soundscapes get masked by anthropogenic noise, presenting a catch-22 situation.
The team doesn’t know why people react positively to natural sounds, but they have their theories. For example, people may consider natural sounds less threatening than the cacophony of human-made noise, which is known to cause stress. It’s also possible that water sounds calm us because we need water to survive—so subconsciously, knowing we’re near a water source has comforting effects.
Rachel Buxton, Ph.D., from Carleton University and the study’s lead author, said:
From an evolutionary perspective, humans are hardwired to attend to signals of danger and security. And an environment that is filled with natural sounds feels safe and allows us to let our guard down.
One exciting finding from this study is that listening to nature recordings is nearly as effective as physically visiting nature. For now, Buxton and the team will continue to investigate the effects of nature sounds on health to determine which sounds are the most effective and what quantity works best.
This research is one of many that shows how being near nature and spending time outdoors is good for health, happiness, and wellbeing. For example, scientists at Cornell University found that green space in urban areas can reduce violent crime, gun violence, stress and lead to safer communities and improved health. Another study found that spending two hours a week in nature reduces anxiety and depression, lowers blood pressure, cuts the risk of other diseases, and boosts creative and cognitive abilities.
But that’s not all! Simply growing indoor plants can provide a significant mood boost and help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Some of the best indoor plants that don’t require much attention, watering, and light include aloe vera, calathea rattlesnake, Chinese evergreen, air plant, peace lily, and snake plant.
However, the snake plant and peace lily are so much more than just mood-boosting greenery for your home. For example, a joint study carried out by the University of Georgia and Yonsei University in 2010 showed that the plants remove benzene and formaldehyde from the air. In addition, earlier this month, scientists from India developed a living ‘plant-based smart air purifier, called ‘Ubreathe Life,’ that uses snake plant and peace lily, among others, to successfully purifying indoor air.
Finally, a study published in the journal Ecological Applications found that you don’t need to be near the plants to reap their benefits; just ‘seeing’ nature can positively affect health. The study followed 3,000 people in Tokyo, Japan, and found that seeing greenery from a window improved mental health.
Nature is an incredible healer, and it’s all around us. So, what are you waiting for? Start enhancing your health today by taking a walk or a forest bath, adding the sounds of nature to your playlist, growing indoor plants, and surrounding your home with greenery.
The next time you feel stressed or unhappy, immerse yourself in nature! Or, watch the video below on replay.
