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Why do I choose to publish this in a column
related to health and wellbeing?
Well, the time I spend every day in the
garden has become the most relaxing part,
despite requiring a bit of work. The time I
spend tossing soil and tending to my many
different plants has become a way to rid
myself of stress from the day. Besides
encouraging me to learn more about greenery
and nature, these plants have also become my
physical happy place - a place of peace and
calm after a bustling day. I didn't know this
earlier, but the ability to attest to peacefulness
found in gardening has actually contributed
to a growing field called Horticultural
Therapy, headed by therapist who are experts
in the world of psychology and ecology.
These therapists have introduced gardening
as a tool to help people cope with mental
illnesses, stress, anxiety, depression, heart
diseases and post-surgery recovery.
"Horticultural therapy as a
treatment for many psychological
and physical disorders and is a
valid and increasingly popular
intervention," says Mitchell Hewson,
Canada's first registered horticultural therapist
who founded the country's largest horticultural
therapy programme at Homewood Health
Center.
In research, gardening is scientifically proven to
have numerous health benefits including, but not
limited to:
>Increased Hand Strength and Dexterity
Hand-healthy gardening tasks prevent the
diminishing of bone strength that inevitably
results with age.
>Stress Relief and Self-Esteem
Gardening decreases cortisol levels and elevates
one’s moods. It also increases self-esteem
because the gardener has the power to change
seeds to fruit or flowers over and over again.
>Decreased Risk of Heart Disease and Strokes
Gardening provides a portion of the required 2.5
hours of moderate-intensity exercise, which in
turn prevents heart diseases and strokes
>Better Brain Health and Decreased Risk of
Alzheimer's
Gardening involves so many of our critical
functions, including strength, endurance,
dexterity, learning, problem solving, and sensory
awareness that contribute towards the fight
against Alzheimer's and other mental illnesses.
>Immune Regulation
Apart from being able to receive your daily dose
of vitamin D while in the garden, the soil a
gardener works with is proven to alleviate
symptoms of psoriasis, allergies and asthma
>Improved Mental Health
Experts in the field of Horticulture have been using
gardening to treat mental illnesses. If you aren't yet
mentally affected, gardening is a great way to make
sure it stays that way!
If you're already a gardener, you
can now enjoy your hobby even
more knowing that it is rewarding
you physically and mentally too. If
gardening hasn't interested you
before, perhaps it will now.