Seldom, Eva & Logan, Alan, (2012), Your Brain on Nature, by Jay Bushnell

What these authors describe that is based on scientific research, may very well confirm what many of you intuitively knew. You may have sensed that being out in nature is good for your health. Yet you may not have suspected how important. Their research used EEGs, EKGs, TRSS, MRIs and studies using controls to outline how important nature is for our mental and Nature based recreation has decrease 50% in the last 40 years. Too much “screen time” whether TV, over using the web or playing computer games is beginning to negatively affect our cultural IQ. This is a reversal of the trend during the 20th century when our general IQ was increasing. This is referred to as the Flynn effect, named after James Flynn who first documented this.

This disassociation from nature goes way beyond simply the health of individuals, it affects the very structure of social interaction. The authors indicate that culturally we are becoming more narcissistic and less empathetic. As they state, “nature ...can help keep anger and impulsivity in check.” Maybe our Congress needs to have a nature retreat! Culturally, we are stressed ranking, 5th out of 151 nations. Happiness seems elusive. They cite that 75% books with happiness in the titles have been published since 2000.

Nature should be considered a form of medicine. The good news is that there are things one can do to benefit from what nature provides. Take a walk in the woods, or park, perhaps with grandchildren. Get a pet. Place a plant in your office or home.           Try to get a window room in the hospital if ever there. Evaluate your screen time. Carefully, assess your diet habits and especially avoid processed foods.

I would recommend reading this book, for the sake of your own health and societies’ health.

physical health when compared to an urban environment. Turns out that chemicals called phytoncides as well as negative ions are emitted from the natural environment helping to reduce stress. Even DHEA, an important neurotransmitter is elevated when in a forest. They note that our ability to synthesize DHEA declines as we age. The Japanese refer to the experience of walking in natural environments as “forest air bathing.” They are careful to protect and use their forest lands which make up to 64% of Japan.

   Urban environments generate stress and too often lack access to healing properties in nature. The authors emphasized that there has developed a disassociation with nature.