The Healing Power of Nature, Research and Tips for Support During a Pandemic with Dr. Orna Izakson

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In this episode we discuss the role that Nature and greenspace play in our health as well as the research behind it, we’ll also discuss some ideas for you to share with your patients and clients during this time.

Dr. Orna is a Naturopathic Doctor, writer, registered herbalist, and environmentalist with extensive studies in botanical and herbal medicine, as well as a Master’s degree in journalism. She is currently practicing in Portland, Oregon at her eco-clinic, Celilo Natural Health Center.

Catch up with Dr. Orna;

Instagram: Instagram.com/dr.orna

Facebook: facebook.com/drornaizakson Twitter: twitter.com/DrOrnaND

Youtube: Youtube.com/DrOrna Website: DrOrna.net Dr. Orna's free "5 Ways Nature Heals — and how to dose up during lockdown" guide here; https://mailchi.mp/363df09672db/dr-ornas-5-ways-nature-heals

Dr. Orna's Daily plant walks : https://www.facebook.com/groups/DrOrnasStressLessVitaminNChallenge/

Resources:

Great books

• The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix

• Forest Bathing by Dr. Cyndi Gilbert, our ND colleague from Ontario: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250214492

• Your Brain in Nature: http://www.yourbrainonnature.com/

Imagery

• Nature imagery and stress: review article https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2016-05/images-nature-may-improve-recovery-stress-exposure and original publication https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26694426

• Nature Imagery in Prisons Project: http://www.antoniocasella.eu/archipsy/Hasbach_5aug16.pdf and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312068560_From_Orange_to_Blue_How_Nature_Imagery_Affects_Inmates_in_the_Blue_Room and press release here: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/apa-cnv072816.php

Greenspace

• Vice article on greenspace and health disparities. This is a must read: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/884z9g/fight-for-bronx-green-spaces-coronavirus-death-rate-air-pollution?fbclid=IwAR0UdWOdDFJUmF8zKZWeXgcy7hde80ENNTqoISerKi-zxiDtCei3htwUf-I

• The Influence of Urban Natural and Built Environments on Physiological and Psychological Measures of Stress— A Pilot Study: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/4/1250

• Green spaces and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(19)30215-3/fulltext

• WELL-PLANNED GREEN SPACES IMPROVE MEDICAL OUTCOMES, SATISFACTION AND QUALITY OF CARE: A TRUST HOSPITAL CASE STUDY: https://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/881_133

• A Review of the Health Benefits of Greenness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500194/

• A Review of Epidemiologic Studies on Greenness and Health: Updated Literature Through 2017: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878143/

Nature

• Great overview of the literature: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP1663

• Nature exposure and sugar consumption: review article https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2020-04/views-nature-affect-sugar-consumption-and-delayed-gratification?fbclid=IwAR3Dp9LWGgKmxTV3wC3-gXYo0ywjTauYCASbtjGxI3O_D_tjGRuoitQ-71g

• The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378297/

• Increased NK and anticancer proteins: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903349

• Creativity: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0051474

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987711003641?via%3Dihub

• Dr. Kurt Beil: http://drkurtbeil.com/published-writings

• Health and well-being benefits of plants: https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/

• Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/

• Benefits of trees for sustainable communities: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.39?fbclid=IwAR0s-AxS1RY_EqdSr8hlEfdJD5b50s35ZDLf9__b7sf91qPRoBmlv2recxE

• A 2017 review of nature’s benefits beyond the visual: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580568/

• The benefits of sun exposure, with and without Vitamin D: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5129901/

• https://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/about/science

• https://www.outsideonline.com/1870381/take-two-hours-pine-forest-and-call-me-morning

• http://davidcumes.com/Inner_Passages.pdf

Getting your nature fix during quarantine

• National Geographic: https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2020/0410/Nature-is-a-balm.-Even-when-you-can-t-leave-home?cmpid=shared-facebook&fbclid=IwAR1ZqyK20wF23TF9SAtMQxgfhdDN2BlvWiM-HszQ9N8DCBbAAmT0ZaOo80E

• The Oregonian: https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/10-ways-to-stay-connected-to-nature-at-home.html?fbclid=IwAR0zzgDbgVxboUaJB9dP5uy3o4De3qswZyP22FEHKon2yNxrNYw29S4MAJ0

• Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/heres-a-mental-health-tip-to-get-you-through-coronavirus-quarantine-find-tranquility-in-nature/?fbclid=IwAR2eq4DlC-ZTiEExQtKturcutwH722BbzWYXLA4kMUqEzUD_T_F5_cXtcBw

• Iceland Review: https://www.icelandreview.com/nature-travel/forest-service-recommends-hugging-trees-while-you-cant-hug-others/?fbclid=IwAR3gu4rggKnicABRlVxBXZqi36z4AFbBBT1fkVyjbKx2HcXyJnVlcaJizRo

• Lexington Herald Leader: https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article241614586.html?fbclid=IwAR172-4D1n9nZOSO2sxeSGmFZ9U2qXuHtUarcMjQ-mGPoMesrCa5OUhH6r8

Physician resources

• Park Rx America lets you literally write prescriptions for parks: https://parkrxamerica.org/

• Walk with a Doc: https://walkwithadoc.org/

Gardening as connection

• From The Conversation, this article talks about the deep roots of gardening: https://theconversation.com/the-impulse-to-garden-in-hard-times-has-deep-roots-137223?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+May+1+2020+-+1610115437&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+May+1+2020+-+1610115437+Version+A+CID_5d17cce4d14e70a19ab3d805e685da24&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=theres+a+long+tradition+of+finding+solace+among+fruits+vegetables+and+flowers&fbclid=IwAR3RAdyI8bjF0sa67BRM_DWr8wo2qWuSKimSBh9bp6oZINzOpmz3fjfkqWY

• From the Lexington (Ky) Herald Leader, the value of gardening and the importance of community garden access: https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article241614586.html?fbclid=IwAR172-4D1n9nZOSO2sxeSGmFZ9U2qXuHtUarcMjQ-mGPoMesrCa5OUhH6r8

• From CNN, this article posits that the return to gardening is actually longing for the wild: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lawns-american-yard-us/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3E7rUxNm5WxP2TgUgamGFI7xDOfC8rqqgiaEBtGgusHt6b8JSYxRfsSCo

• Here’s the article about the “rebel botanists” chalking the sidewalks to ID plants: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/not-just-weeds-how-rebel-botanists-are-using-graffiti-to-name-forgotten-flora-aoe?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco&fbclid=IwAR0FNlQ3FzUPk7RfXuLOkdRaOsecZPZthfzibW7QEvzP7ESZIrCElkajEoE

• Gardening to manage anxiety: https://theconversation.com/the-impulse-to-garden-in-hard-times-has-deep-roots-137223?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+May+1+2020+-+1610115437&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+May+1+2020+-+1610115437+Version+A+CID_5d17cce4d14e70a19ab3d805e685da24&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=theres+a+long+tradition+of+finding+solace+among+fruits+vegetables+and+flowers&fbclid=IwAR3RAdyI8bjF0sa67BRM_DWr8wo2qWuSKimSBh9bp6oZINzOpmz3fjfkqWY