Mr. Natural Rides Again

Connecting with nature can improve your health and wellbeing,
say researchers in this week’s BMJ. The theory is known as ecotherapy:
restoring health through contact with nature.

Use of wildlife in some therapies is reported to improve quality of life,
write the authors. Smaller animals (for example, squirrels, owls, and raccoons)
have been used successfully in therapies for children with emotional and
behavioural problems.

People who take part in conservation projects report subjective health
benefits, ascribed to being outdoors and to feeling part of a greater system
connecting beyond the individual.

Such projects can help overcome social
isolation, develop skills, and improve employment prospects, as well as
provide the known benefits associated with exercise.

No wonder we’re heading for the hills in a few short weeks….

from the British Journal of Medicine via Eureka Alert