The Healing Power of Nature- The Nature Fix

Like many of you, I’ve known that getting outside, walking in the woods, and absorbing sunlight are all healthy things to do. And with the warmer spring weather around, the opportunity to practice these habits are right in front of me. 

For a while, I kept hearing bloggers and podcasters mention one specific book– The Nature Fix. They spoke about how eye-opening and intriguing it was, as the author explained not only why being in nature is greatly beneficial for our health, but also provided scientific evidence that supports these theories. 

To be honest, sometimes I’m a bit skeptical of homeopathic remedies or holistic lifestyle routines, but when there’s actual data to back up claims, it holds my attention and builds credibility. 

The author, Florence Williams, traveled the globe exploring this idea of nature’s healing qualities. She interviewed neurologists, psychologists, scientists and groups who experimented with nature as a natural medicine for illnesses ranging from depression to cancer to ADHD. 

I found the book urging me to create some new habits for myself, so in this post I’ll share just a few of my takeaways as well as ways I plan to implement some of these healthy lifestyle changes into my own routine. Give it a read for yourself if you’re curious! 

Takeaways from The Nature Fix

What does nature actually do to our brain?– Have you ever heard of the phrase “forest bathing”? It’s a term the Japanese people have developed and literally means absorbing the forest atmosphere. Surprisingly, it’s a common practice that is even used as “preventative medicine” in Japan. 

Since nature is one of the only places we truly use all 5 senses, it helps us cognitively (by having stronger focusing abilities), psychologically (by lowering blood pressure and anxiety), and recharges our mental energy. It also allows us to think more clearly, which is why many feel more creative when in nature and also claim that food tastes better when eaten in this atmosphere (I’ll have to pay more attention to that!). 

How can forest smells have an effect on our health?- The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses, but more than just the pleasure we get from smelling a freshly baked cookie or the scent of a newborn baby. The nose has a direct pathway to our brains, so when we smell something (good or bad) it sends a specific message that alerts the brain to behave in a certain way. 

When we walk in nature, plants, trees, and soil emit substances that have antibacterial, antiviral, and cortisol-lowering oils. The essential oils that are given off allow our bodies to absorb these healing qualities just by smelling them. 

Can nature really boost my immune system (and even help fight cancer)?- We have these amazing white blood cells in our bodies that are called NK immune cells (natural killer cells). Their job is to send messages throughout the body that tell tumors and other virus-infected cells to self-destruct. But over the course of our lives, there are factors that cause our NK count to decrease (age, stress, pollution). 

Williams wrote that spending extended time in nature (3 full days) drastically increases our NK cell count and it remains elevated for up to a month. 

But even if you don’t spend several days at a time hiking in the woods, just immersing yourself in nature is found to have positive effects on our immune fighting cells. And if you can’t get outside enough in the winter months, the scientist behind this study claims that diffusing cypress essential oil can raise your NK cell count significantly, too. 

What practical ways does Williams suggest to reap the benefits from nature?- “Distilling what I learned, I came up with a kind of ultrasimple coda: Go outside, often, sometimes in wild places. Bring friends or not. Breathe.”- Williams 

At the end of her book, she wraps up by suggesting that we get outside in nature as often as possible. A walk through your town or city’s park is great but what will give an even greater amount of health benefits is longer exposure to nature– whether that be an afternoon hike on a wooded trail or even a several day trip to the wilderness every few years. 

Overall, the more time we spend in nature, the greater our levels of wellbeing will be. 

4 sustainable changes to my own lifestyle

1. Get outside every single day. Regardless of the weather, I need to get outside for at least a 10 minute brisk walk around our block. If I have time and energy, I’ll walk longer. On my monthly goals sheet, I created a section to track this. Having that extra accountability (with a visual tracker, spouse, or friend) always helps me to stay motivated and meet more of my goals. 

2. Diffuse more coniferous essential oils. I love diffusing essential oils all year long, but it sounds like there’s a big benefit from diffusing oils such as cypress particularly in the winter months when our exposure to nature isn’t as plentiful. 

3. Get to a nearby trail. Being outside is great, but the real benefits come from soaking in the substances given off by plants and trees. My favorite wooded trail (complete with sheep pastures, Amish farms, and a beautiful creek) is just a few minutes drive down the road. Another one of my goals is to head out to this trail at least 4 times a month. No phone calls, podcasts, or music to listen to, just a nice peaceful walk by myself in the woods. 

4. Incorporate more nature exploration in homeschool. Next year we’re planning on using “Exploring Nature with Children” as our science curriculum. Each week, we’ll plan to take a nature walk to a trail or forest to observe the topic we learned about. Encouraging my kids to appreciate nature is one way to make it a shared hobby.