How To Bring The Healing Power of Nature Indoors

Written By Hilary Sohn, LMT, Founder/Owner - The Healing Sanctuary

"Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees." - John Muir

These days we are becoming increasingly aware of the ways that being in nature positively affects our health, like how the practice of forest bathing (1) can increase relaxation by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels (2).  But there are days we can’t get outside because of inclement weather or a too hot or cold climate.  Additionally, some of us live in urban settings without ready access to nature.  So, how do we reap the benefits of nature when we don’t have access?   

By employing principles of biophilic design (3) in indoor environments, we can harness the healing power of nature even without being outside.  Our wellness center, The Healing Sanctuary, employs the use of biophilic design elements in order to support the health and wellbeing of our clients.  The right setting serves to calm an upregulated nervous system and enhance relaxation and receptivity to healing services. These same elements can be introduced into residential and work environments as well.  Here are a few ways you can create an environment of healing:

  • Introduce living plants into the environment.  Plants bring life to an otherwise sterile space. They clean the air by absorbing CO2 and giving off oxygen.

  •  Add moving water elements like fountains. The sound of water flowing creates a feeling of tranquility and acts as a pleasant “white noise” element.  Moving water (4) also adds negative ions to the air, improving air quality (5) by removing pollutants and allergens and increasing oxygen.  A Columbia University study (6) showed that negative ion generators can relieve symptoms of depression in people with seasonal affective disorder as effectively as antidepressants.  (FYI, your shower at home is a natural ionizer.)

  • Follow the rhythm of natural light.  Open the blinds and allow natural daylight in if you can, or vary the intensity of light during the day to more closely mimic the sun’s normal progression from morning to evening. A Swiss study (7) showed exposure to changing light during the day keeps our circadian rhythm more normalized, lets us sleep more deeply and exerts a positive influence on mood.

  • Use natural materials, colors, shapes and forms where possible. Wood, stone, muted natural colors, textures like grass cloth, bamboo, even images of nature can enhance the feeling of being in nature and stimulate multiple senses.  This multi-sensory engagement can create deep awareness of our environment and bring us into the present moment, a key component of mindfulness. And mindfulness research (8) shows a variety of positive effects on health such as relief from stress and anxiety, reduction of depressive symptoms, improvement of immune system function, enhanced sleep quality, and more.  

  • Diffuse essential oils into the air.  Research on essential oils (9) has shown the benefits of various oils on different aspects of health and wellbeing.  Scent impacts the amygdala which is the gateway to our limbic system, and impacts our mood, our sense of safety, and even evokes memory.  Depending on the essential oils chosen, you can open your sinuses, lower anxiety, clear the air of germs, improve focus, increase relaxation, and more.

For more tips on ways to create a healthy and stress-free environment, check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in: Apartment Detox to Energize and Cleanse Your Space.

References

(1) Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580555/

(2) Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31001682/

(3) 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health & Well-Being in the Built Environment: https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/

(4) Negative ions create positive vibes: https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes#1

(5) Negative Air Ions and Their Effects on Human Health and Air Quality Improvement: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213340/

(6) Treatment of seasonal affective disorder with a high-output negative ionizer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9395604/

(7) Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6751071/

(8) UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center: https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/research

(9) Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115001033

Hilary Sohn, LMT, Founder/Owner - The Healing Sanctuary

Hilary is the founder/owner of The Healing Sanctuary and has been a massage therapist since 2002. She holds a Psychology B.S. from St. Joseph’s University, a Psychoeducational Processes M.Ed. from Temple University, and is a 2021 alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, and holds a Foundations of Biophilic Design certificate from the International Living Future Institute. . She champions the Women’s Workshop for the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce and serves on their DEI Council. Hilary is committed to building collaboration between health and wellness practitioners. She believes that healing can come in many forms and from different directions, and encourages practitioners in the center to work with other providers to support clients in their healing journeys.

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