54 | www.Ups tatePhys i c i ansSC . com | www.Hea l thL i nksUps tate. com Nature is healing for the soul and for the body. When we make interacting with nature a part of our weekly routine, we can share in the immune-system benefits and the accompanying healing in the colors, light and sounds of a natural space. As part of their daily metabolic process, plants release a cloud of phytoncides, creating a protective microclimate that defends against pests and disease. When humans walk through the woods or simply coalesce with nature, they can immerse themselves in these naturally-existing immune benefits. Exposure to nature boosts our immune system on a biological level. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health has concluded that forest air contains a significant number of natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell that functions against stressed cells – such as those infected with a virus – and reportedly releases anti-cancer proteins. The benefits are not limited to the forest in space or time. In a study, male subjects 35 to 56 years old who participated in a three-day, two-night visit to the forest experienced increased natural killer cell activity lasting for more than seven days after the trip. Similar results, also recorded by the National Institutes of Health, were found for female nurses 35 to 43 years old. The research discusses how visits to the forest demonstrate ongoing preventive effects on cancer cell generation and development. Emerging research concerning the threshold needed to experience benefits suggests that improvements in overall well-being is in reach. In a recent study led by the University of Exeter in England, participants who spent a total of two hours a week immersed in nature self-reported improvements that were THE HEALING POWERS OF NATURE By Molly Sherman
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