Nature Experiences Reduce Stress In Daily Life

Lejeboca

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2017
Messages
1,039
This study provides some detailed numbers in cortisol drop and alpha-amylase increase from to "nature experiences". Also "lowest exertion" activities were shown to produce bigger effect.

Urban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary Biomarkers

Stress reduction through contact with nature is well established, but far less is known about the contribution of contact parameters – duration, frequency, and nature quality. This study describes the relationship between duration of a nature experience (NE), and changes in two physiological biomarkers of stress – salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase. It is the first study to employ long-term, repeated-measure assessment and the first evaluation wherein study participants are free to choose the time of day, duration, and the place of a NE in response to personal preference and changing daily schedules. During an 8-week study period, 36 urban dwellers were asked to have a NE, defined as spending time in an outdoor place that brings a sense of contact with nature, at least three times a week for a duration of 10 min or more. Their goal was compliance within the context of unpredictable opportunity for taking a nature pill. Participants provided saliva samples before and after a NE at four points over the study period. Before-NE samples established the diurnal trajectory of each stress indicator and these were in line with published outcomes of more closely controlled experiments. For salivary cortisol, an NE produced a 21.3%/hour drop beyond that of the hormone’s 11.7% diurnal drop. The efficiency of a nature pill per time expended was greatest between 20 and 30 min, after which benefits continued to accrue, but at a reduced rate. For salivary alpha-amylase, there was a 28.1%/h drop after adjusting for its diurnal rise of 3.5%/h, but only for participants that were least active sitting or sitting with some walking. Activity type did not influence cortisol response. The methods for this adaptive management study of nature-based restoration break new ground in addressing some complexities of measuring an effective nature dose in the context of normal daily life, while bypassing the limitations of a clinical pharmacology dose–response study. The results provide a validated starting point for healthcare practitioners prescribing a nature pill to those in their care. This line of inquiry is timely in light of expanding urbanization and rising healthcare costs.

fpsyg-10-00722-g003.jpg



... we grouped data from the two lowest exertion classes (sitting and sitting+walking) based on the similarity of the amylase responses (i.e., regression slopes). The linear mixed model with a two-category covariate for activity type (Table 4, Model 2) showed that lower exertion nature pills had an amylase drop of 27.9% per hour (with diurnal changes accounted for). Higher exertion nature pills had amylase changes that were indistinguishable from the baseline diurnal condition. Figure 7 visualizes these relationships.


 

Constatine

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2016
Messages
1,781
Grounding (Earthing) is also incredibly useful for relaxation. Lowering body voltage via direct contact to the earth is extremely healing and seems to effect the body quite rapidly. The further we get from nature the sicker we become.
 
OP
Lejeboca

Lejeboca

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2017
Messages
1,039

Thank you for the find.

The paper says that the benefits to immunity, the increased number of NK cells, persist for up to a month from a short trip, Day1 1x2h and Day2 2x2h. Interestingly, the rate of NK activity slows between Day1 and Day2 as compared with Day1 and Day2, and sharply drops after seven days.

1611092166223.png

Such a multi-day charge of benefits seems reminiscent of that from going to altitude for a day and lasting for 6 days at the sea level. I'd like to think that we have long-lasting benefits from many seemingly immediate effects.

Good thing Japanese have handy names for all sorts of activities: this helps to remember doing (or not) those activities:):
Like forest-bathing is Shinrinyoku.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom