Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

Posted by Dr. Natasha Ryz on

Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel disconnected from nature.

Between work, family, and other obligations, many people find themselves spending the majority of their time indoors.

However, research has shown that spending time in nature can have a positive impact on our mental and physical health. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving mood and cognitive function, nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy or green therapy, is gaining popularity as a holistic approach to wellness.

But what if you're stuck inside and can't get outside to enjoy nature? 

There are several ways to connect with nature from the comfort of your own home:

  1. Bring nature to you - indoor plants and flowers
  2. Decorate your home with nature
  3. Look at pictures and videos of nature
  4. Listen to nature sounds and music
  5. Smell nature - try essential oils
  6. Eat nature - fruits and vegetables
  7. Touch nature - try natural skincare

 

Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

What is Forest Bathing?

In Japan, Shinrin-Yoku or Forest Bathing is a program that encourages people to get out into nature, to bathe the mind and body in greenspace. More broadly, forest bathing is defined as “taking in, in all of our senses, the forest atmosphere.”

The term forest bathing was created in 1982 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (1). 

Forest bathing refers to a healing technique that restores the physical and psychological health of the human body through a “five senses experience” of vision, smell, hearing, touch, and taste when the body is exposed to a forest environment (1).

Numerous studies have confirmed that spending time within a forest setting "forest bathing" can reduce psychological stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms and hostility, while at the same time improving sleep and increasing both vigor and feelings of liveliness (1-7). 

Forest bathing, also called nature therapy has many benefits for your health.

How do you get nature therapy when you're stuck inside?

     

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    1. Bring nature to you - indoor plants and flowers

    Having live plants and flowers in your home and office is beneficial for your health.

    Even just having a plant in your room may improve your mood. For instance, patients in a hospital room with indoor plants reported less stress than those in the control condition (8-10).

    Decorating offices with plants has also been shown to decrease fatigue (11).

    These effects may in part be caused by the plants removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air (12).

    VOCs are emitted from materials such as carpets, wallpaper, office chairs, and electronic equipment, with highest emissions from new products. Several ornamental potted plant species have the ability to absorb VOCs from indoor air (13).

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    Interacting with nature also helps you focus and brings you into the present moment.

    When you look at a plant or smell an aromatic flower, your mind is drawn into the pleasant experience.

    When your thoughts focus on nature, your mind is no longer filled with the chattering in your head - no more worrying about the past or anticipating the future.

    For a few moments, your thoughts are clear.

    You feel calm.

     

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    2. Decorate your home with nature

    One of the simplest and most effective ways to get nature therapy when you're stuck inside is to incorporate natural elements into your home decor. Rocks, shells, and crystals are all examples of natural materials that can help you feel more connected to the natural world.

    Rocks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be used in a multitude of ways to bring a sense of nature into your home. For instance, you can display rocks in a glass jar or bowl to create a natural centerpiece for your coffee table or bookshelf. You can also use rocks to create a rock garden or incorporate them into your landscaping, if you have an outdoor space.

    Shells are a great way to bring the beach indoors. Whether you collect shells from your own beach adventures or purchase them, shells can be used in a variety of ways to decorate your home. You can create a shell mosaic on a piece of furniture or use shells as a natural accent for a beach-themed room.

    Crystals are another natural element that can help you feel more connected to the earth. You can incorporate crystals into your home decor by displaying them on a shelf, using them as bookends, or even wearing them as jewelry.

    By incorporating natural elements into your home decor, you can create a calming and peaceful environment that reminds you of the beauty of nature.

    Whether you choose rocks, shells, crystals, or any other natural material, the key is to find something that speaks to you and brings you joy.

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    3. Look at pictures and videos of nature

    Looking at pictures and videos of nature can help lower blood pressure and relieve anxiety (10, 14-16). Keep in mind that this can be very individual- you may find images of oceans and water very calming, or you may respond better to images of trees and forests. 

    Choose images that are meaningful and beautiful to you. 

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    4. Listen to nature sounds and music

    Listen to nature sounds and music.

    Listening to pleasant nature sounds can help lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and reduce agitation levels (17-19).

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    5. Smell nature - try essential oils

    Aromatherapy is a simple, effective and enjoyable method of stress relief.

    Terpenes are small active compounds you can smell. Examples include alpha-pinene from pine trees, linalool from lavender and limonene in citrus rind. Terpenes can enter into your body as you inhale them (20-21). Terpenes have many health benefits and smelling them can help enhance calmness and improve mood (22). 

    Lavender essential oil has a rich floral scent, which can improve states of calm and relaxation (23-28). Smelling lavender has been shown to significantly decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce levels of stress hormones, including cortisol (25). The aroma of lavender has also been shown to increase the power of theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-13 Hz) brain activities, which correspond with a state of deep relaxation (26).

    Sweet orange essential oil has a fresh, sweet and citrusy scent and smelling sweet orange can reduce anxiety, improve mood and increase calmness (28-30).

    Learn more: Benefits of Wild Orange Essential Oil for Skincare

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    6. Eat nature - fruits and vegetables

    There is evidence that higher dietary intake of fruits and vegetables is related to better mental health.

    The most prominent results indicate that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may promote higher levels of optimism, reduce the level of psychological distress, and protect against depressive symptoms (31).

    Therefore, the recommendation to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day may be beneficial also for mental health.

    Best Oil Cleanser - Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil to Milk Face Cleanser

    7. Touch nature - try natural skincare

    Another way to get nature therapy when you're stuck inside is to try natural skincare products. Natural skincare products are made with ingredients derived from plants, herbs, and other natural sources, which can be gentle and nourishing for the skin.

    When you use natural skincare products, you can not only benefit from the properties of the ingredients, but you can also enjoy the sensory experience of touching and smelling them. 

    There are many natural skincare products available, from facial oils to body scrubs, that can help you create a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home.

    If you're looking for a natural skincare product to incorporate into your nature therapy routine, try Dry Skin Love's Wild Orange Oil to Milk Face Cleanser. This 100% natural cleanser contains wild orange essential oil, which has a deeply aromatic scent that can help you feel more connected to nature.

    Dry Skin Love's Oil to Milk Face Cleanser is designed to gently cleanse and moisturize the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. When you use this cleanser, you can enjoy the sensory experience of the natural ingredients and the delightful scent of the wild orange essential oil.

    Best Oil Cleanser - Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil to Milk Face Cleanser

    Summary

    Interacting with nature promotes a state of calm and relaxation. 

    There are many ways to get nature therapy when you're stuck inside:

    1. Bring nature to you - indoor plants and flowers
    2. Decorate your home with nature
    3. Look at pictures and videos of nature
    4. Listen to nature sounds and music
    5. Smell nature - try essential oils
    6. Eat nature - fruits and vegetables
    7. Touch nature - try natural skincare

    Nature therapy is a powerful tool for improving mental and physical well-being. Even when you're stuck inside, there are many ways to bring nature into your environment and experience its benefits. Whether you try one or all of these tips, the key is to find what works best for you and to make nature therapy a regular part of your self-care routine. With a little creativity and intentionality, you can enjoy the healing power of nature no matter where you are.

    How do you interact with nature when you can't get outside?

    Nature Therapy from the Comfort of Your Home

    References

    1. Ye Wen, Qi Yan, Yangliu Pan, Xinren Gu, Yuanqiu Liu. Medical empirical research on forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): a systematic review. Environ Health Prev Med. 2019; 24: 70.
    1. Marita Stier-Jarmer, Veronika Throner, Michaela Kirschneck, Gisela Immich, Dieter Frisch, Angela Schuh. The Psychological and Physical Effects of Forests on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb; 18(4): 1770.
    1. Marc R Farrow, Kyle Washburn. A Review of Field Experiments on the Effect of Forest Bathing on Anxiety and Heart Rate Variability. Glob Adv Health Med. 2019; 8.
    1. Akemi Furuyashiki, Keiji Tabuchi, Kensuke Norikoshi, Toshio Kobayashi, Sanae Oriyama. A comparative study of the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) on working age people with and without depressive tendencies. Environ Health Prev Med. 2019; 24: 46.
    1. Yuki Ideno, Kunihiko Hayashi, Yukina Abe, Kayo Ueda, Hiroyasu Iso, Mitsuhiko Noda, Jung-Su Lee, Shosuke Suzuki. Blood pressure-lowering effect of Shinrin-yoku (Forest bathing): a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017; 17: 409.
    1. Chia-Pin Yu, Chia-Min Lin, Ming-Jer Tsai, Yu-Chieh Tsai, Chun-Yu Chen. Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Aug; 14(8): 897.
    1. Berman MG, Kross E, Krpan KM, Askren MK, Burson A, Deldin PJ, Kaplan S, Sherdell L, Gotlib IH, Jonides J. Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression. J Affect Disord. 2012 Nov;140(3):300-5.
    1. Dijkstra K, Pieterse ME, Pruyn A. Stress-reducing effects of indoor plants in the built healthcare environment: the mediating role of perceived attractiveness. Prev Med. 2008 Sep;47(3):279-83.
    1. Lee MS, Lee J, Park BJ, Miyazaki Y. Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study. J Physiol Anthropol. 2015 Apr 28;34:21.
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    1. Fjeld T, Veiersted B, Sandvik L, Riise G, Levy F (1998) The effect of indoor foliage plants on health and discomfort symptoms among office workers. Indoor Built Environ 7:204–209.
    1. Dela Cruz M, Christensen JH, Thomsen JD, Müller R. Can ornamental potted plants remove volatile organic compounds from indoor air? A review. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014 Dec;21(24):13909-28.
    1. Yang DS, Pennisi SV, Son KC, Kays SJ (2009) Screening indoor plants for volatile organic pollutant removal efficiency. Hortscience 44: 1377–1381.
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    1. Fariba Mostajeran, Jessica Krzikawski, Frank Steinicke, Simone Kühn. Effects of exposure to immersive videos and photo slideshows of forest and urban environments. Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 3994.
    1. Chorong Song, Harumi Ikei, Yoshifumi Miyazaki. Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation with Forest Imagery. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Feb; 15(2): 213.
    1. Aghaie B, Rejeh N, Heravi-Karimooi M, Ebadi A, Moradian ST, Vaismoradi M, Jasper M. Effect of nature-based sound therapy on agitation and anxiety in coronary artery bypass graft patients during the weaning of mechanical ventilation: A randomised clinical trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2014 Apr;51(4):526-38.
    1. Saadatmand V, Rejeh N, Heravi-Karimooi M, Tadrisi SD, Zayeri F, Vaismoradi M, Jasper M. Effect of nature-based sounds' intervention on agitation, anxiety, and stress in patients under mechanical ventilator support: a randomised controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013 Jul;50(7):895-904.
    1. Bauer BA, Cutshall SA, Anderson PG, Prinsen SK, Wentworth LJ, Olney TJ, Messner PK, Brekke KM, Li Z, Sundt TM 3rd, Kelly RF, Bauer BA. Effect of the combination of music and nature sounds on pain and anxiety in cardiac surgical patients: a randomized study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2011 Jul-Aug;17(4):16-23.
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    1. Chen MC, Fang SH, Fang L. The effects of aromatherapy in relieving symptoms related to job stress among nurses. Int J Nurs Pract. 2013 Nov 15.
    1. Kim S, Kim HJ, Yeo JS, Hong SJ, Lee JM, Jeon Y. The effect of lavender oil on stress, bispectral index values, and needle insertion pain in volunteers. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):823-6.
    1. Kim IH, Kim C, Seong K, Hur MH, Lim HM, Lee MS. Essential oil inhalation on blood pressure and salivary cortisol levels in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:984203.
    1. Toda M, Morimoto K. Effect of lavender aroma on salivary endocrinological stress markers. Arch Oral Biol. 2008 Oct;53(10):964-8.
    1. Sayorwan W, Siripornpanich V, Piriyapunyaporn T, Hongratanaworakit T, Kotchabhakdi N, Ruangrungsi N. The effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activity. J Med Assoc Thai. 2012 Apr;95(4):598-606.
    1. Lehrner J, Marwinski G, Lehr S, Johren P, Deecke L. Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office. Physiol Behav. 2005 Sep 15;86(1-2):92-5.
    1. Goes TC, Antunes FD, Alves PB, Teixeira-Silva F. Effect of sweet orange aroma on experimental anxiety in humans. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Aug;18(8):798-804.
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    Author Information

    Dr. Natasha Ryz, Scientist and Founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare

    Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.

    Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

    Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw cannabis extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.

    Why I Started A Skincare Company

    Email: natasha.ryz@dryskinlove.com
    Twitter: @tashryz
    Instagram: @tash.ryz
    LinkedIn: @natasharyz

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