Nature: Free Medicine for Chronic Disease

Why one doctor prescribes walking on grass barefoot.

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Whether you’re battling an illness or just dealing with some stress, getting out in nature may help.

Nature is a natural stress reliever and may even reduce symptoms of conditions such as high blood pressure and asthma. So,  take off your shoes and step on the grass with your bare feet—walking barefoot has some unexpected benefits.

Green Space Is Free Medicine

Do you like green spaces? A two-year study conducted in Finland and published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that frequent visits to green spaces such as forests, gardens, parks, and meadows can help people reduce the use of prescription medication for depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, and asthma.

The study analyzed data from 7,321 people and compared those who visited green spaces less than once a week to those who visited them three to four times a week. The latter were 33 percent less likely to use psychotropic medication, 36 percent less likely to use high-blood-pressure medication, and 26 percent less likely to use asthma medication.

Dr. Gyaltsen Lobsang, a preventive medicine expert and director of Dr. Lobsang Preventive Medicare Clinic, told The Epoch Times he often encourages people to go into the forest—advice he includes in his prescriptions because nature offers so many health benefits.

1. Reduces Chronic Inflammation

Plants release oxygen and produce bioactive substances during photosynthesis that help you resist oxidation and reduce chronic inflammation.

Many people suffer from chronic inflammatory conditions. When cells in the body do not get enough oxygen, they emit reactive oxygen species that can damage cells and organs, resulting in cellular damage and chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to weakened immunity, making it difficult for the body to fight foreign viruses and bacteria.

Hypoxemia (insufficient oxygen in the body) can be caused by environmental, physiological, and pathological factors. Lobsang said symptoms such as muscle stiffness, poor sleep, and dizziness may indicate a lack of oxygen in the body.

2. Boosts Immunity and Prevents Cancer

People breathe in phytoncides when in green spaces, especially forests. Phytoncides, also known as “exterminators of the plant,” are chemicals that plants release into the air with antimicrobial properties to protect themselves from insects.

A study found that the activity of natural killer cells in the body increased by about 50 percent after people breathed in phytoncides while walking in nature. These cells can kill tumor cells and virus-infected cells.

Lobsang believes that the air in the forest can help cleanse the lungs. Therefore, he asks his patients, especially those with lung cancer, to spend time in nature, preferably in forested areas, at least two to three times a month.

3. Relieves Stress, Improves Mood, and Regulates Nervous System

A natural environment filled with plants promotes relaxation of body and mind. This is partly because there are more sounds in the forest than at the seaside, such as the chirping of insects and birds and the sound of the wind, Shih-Heng Chang, director of Lohasiinfra Clinic in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times. These sounds are called white noise, and they can block out other noise, helping to relieve stress and relax the body.

Studies have found that forest landscapes can reduce psychological stress and mental fatigue and induce positive emotions, thereby improving anxiety, depression, and anger. Forest bathing also helps to reduce stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

Stress is also closely related to autonomic nervous system disorders; forest bathing can increase activity of the parasympathetic nervous system—also known as the “rest and digest” system— and reduce that of the sympathetic nervous system—also known as the “fight or flight” response—allowing the nervous system to return to a stable and balanced state. Consequently, sleep quality can also be improved.

The natural environment full of plants can relax the body and mind, and regulate the autonomic nervous system. (Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock)

4. Lowers Blood Pressure and Manages Diabetes

Studies have found that the forest environment can effectively lower blood pressure, reduce pulse rate, and improve heart, lung, and metabolic functions.

Walking in a forest environment increases adiponectin levels, which help lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. High levels of adiponectin have been linked to weight loss, resistance to diabetes, and the prevention of atherosclerosis—a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

5. Manage ADHD and Improve Concentration

In addition to improving concentration in the general population, natural environments can enhance attention in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A walk in the park is sufficient to elevate concentration in children with ADHD.

Lobsang found in his clinical treatment that the symptoms of 80 to 90 percent of children with ADHD or autism could be improved when the children were exposed to nature.

6. Manage Asthma and Improve Lung Function

Asthma has been linked to exposure to air pollution. Exposure to a forest environment can help improve symptoms. A study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that children who grew up with increased exposure to green spaces had improved respiratory health and often had healthier lungs.

“Plants are the best air purifiers,” Lobsang said. He points to studies showing that simply having plants (such as sansevieria) indoors can help clean the air.

7. Improve Eye Health

Looking at a green environment after intense eye use can relax the eyes. Green light’s wavelength can relax the eye muscles, Chang said. The eyes affect the brain, so discomfort in the eyes can cause discomfort in the head.

Take off Your Shoes and Perform ‘Earthing’ to Increase Natural Healing Power

Walking  barefoot on grass, dirt, and sand  is called “earthing.” It allows you to receive nature’s medicine—electrons from the Earth’s surface.

The purpose of earthing is to connect the weak current on the surface of the earth with the physiological current of the human body to restore the body’s electrical balance.

Earthing can manage many diseases by connecting the weak current on the Earth’s surface with the physiological current of the human body. (Me dia/Shutterstock)

A case study by the International Academy of Clinical Thermography followed an 85-year-old man with severe inflammation and chronic pain. He reported waking up stiff and sore every day, but after four weeks of earthing therapy, his pain completely disappeared.

Earthing can also speed up the healing of difficult-to-heal wounds in diabetic patients and relieve pain from wounds.

To significantly reduce pain and stress, going barefoot for as little as 30 or 40 minutes daily can be helpful.

The body is a structure of energy, Lobsang said, and earthing not only releases negative energy from the body, but also massages the soles of the feet. There are many acupoints there, such as Yong Quan, which helps relieve stress, stabilize emotions, and improve sleep. Additionally, stimulating the muscles in the sole of the foot can promote microcirculation—the flow of blood through the body’s smallest vessels.

Lobstang takes his patients to places with clean grass for earthing. In particular, grass exposed to the sun is best. However, people with wounds on the soles of their feet, especially diabetics, should avoid earthing till their wounds heal.

The energies of the human body, the Earth, and the universe are inherently interconnected, Kuo pin said. Walking barefoot on the ground can help balance the body’s energy, which is beneficial for overall well-being.