Gardens are good for your brain–and a type of bacteria in the soil called Mycobacterium vaccae may be the reason why.
On Arizona Public Media, Gisela Telis quotes psychiatrist Charles Raison as saying, "What’s remarkable is that this microorganism seems to know how exactly to signal the brain areas we believe are most important for reducing depressive symptoms.
"Dirt has a lot of microbes in it–a lot of little bacteria and such–that we know impact the immune system in ways that actually enhance emotional resilience. It’s been shown a number of times now that people who live near green spaces, who have access to natural environments, live longer than people who don’t."
In other words, part of the reason that people are so stressed today may be because we don’t get down and dirty any more.
There’s something good about green: Just LOOKING at a green space can be healing: a 1984 study by environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich showed that hospital patients who had a view of trees and other green spaces outside their windows got well more quickly.
If YOU’RE depressed, we suggest a unique cure: Our wonderful Symposium, in the GREEN and flower-filled city of Nashville. Come meet old friends and make new ones, while listening to talks by some of the most interesting speakers (NOTE: Subscribers can still listen to this show) you’ll find anywhere! Your ticket price includes breakfast Saturday and Sunday and lunch on Saturday, but hurry–we only have 140 seats available and they’re going fast!
Subscribers, to watch the subscriber version of the video, first log in then click on Dreamland Subscriber-Only Video Podcast link.