We all know that being in nature is good for our health and mental wellbeing. But how does nature work its magic? For example, how do we explain the finding that people who had a lush view from their hospital windows after gallbladder surgery recovered three times faster and needed far fewer painkillers than those who simply looked out through a brick wall?
It was this mystery that led botanist Kathy Willis on her latest mission. Former scientific director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, and now professor of biodiversity at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, she says her discovery has changed her life. In her new book, Good NatureIn this article, she explores a growing body of research that illuminates what happens to our brains and bodies when we connect with nature. Though we tend to think of ourselves as a visual species, it turns out the benefits we derive from our other senses — smell, hearing, touch, and the mysterious “hidden senses” — are just as impressive, and sometimes even more so. There’s still much to discover, but as she says, New ScientistWe have already learned many things that can improve our lives.
Kate Douglas: What happens when you observe nature?
Kathy Willis: It triggers different pathways in our body: heart rate and blood pressure decrease, stress hormones like adrenaline decrease, brainwave activity increases, and we find we feel calmer and clearer-headed.
Are there any “natural” colors we should look for?
Physiological indicators of calm include green and white leaves, yellow or white flowers…
