Nature Heals
Humans have evolved living in natural surroundings. In the timeline of our development, it is only very recently that we have been spending the majority of our time indoors.
E. O. Wilson, a renowned American biologist, theorist and naturalist said ”Organisms when housed in unfit habitats undergo psychological and physical breakdown.” We have seen great attention and money spent in our modern zoos to give animals a living environment that resembles as closely as possible the environments that they are native to and yet we live in houses — houses that look nothing like the environments that lead to our own ability to thrive.
Ming Kuo a notable scientist and psychologist at the University of Illinois, has connected numerous studies linking human health and our relationship to nature. In her studies she has seen how being in nature helps with obesity, hypertension, diabetes and boosts our immune system. Her research shows how spending time in nature affects our long term health outcomes. Heart rates go down, and there is a decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity in to parasympathetic nervous activity basically shifting us from a fight in flight response to tend and befriend mode. When the brain is in this state, the body is able to recover and heal.
Not only do I have an abundance of plants and tree branches in my home, my art creates "windows to the outside". I always try to bring the outdoors inside with my art. I hope that it brings as much healing to you as it does to me.
