Sir Richard Thompson, a former physician to HM The Queen, informed the AIPH (International Association of Horticultural Producers) Green City Conference 2014 in London that he would like to prescribe 'more gardening' in order that the health of the nation would improve. The knock-on effect would be 'huge potential savings' for the National Health Service.
The speaker, who is the President of the Royal College of Physicians, stated that studies revealed that hospital gardens reduced stress for patients, and ornamental indoor plants in surgery recovery rooms had been shown to lead to a drop in the use of painkillers. Indeed, just viewing plants improved people's heart rates. He commented: 'A few minutes of viewing a green garden can improve a person's physiology,'
This remark was supported by a study by Robert Ulrich in 2002 which showed that hospital gardens improved moods, and reduced stress for patients, their families and for members of staff, but only if the gardens contained biodiversity. It was found that a 'sculpture bird garden' actually had a negative effect.
In the speech, Sir Richard remarked that the benefits of gardens to physical, mental and emotional health were well documented. In Egypt, court gardens were created for mental health whilst in Japan had a long history of contemplative gardens. In later times, hospitals in the United Kingdom were designed within garden or park settings.
It has also been shown that urban parks assisted in tackling respiratory disease, with a single tree having the capacity of removing 21.8 kg (48 lb) of particles such as back carbon (soot) and diesel matter from the air on a daily basis.
Sir Richard also pointed out that gardening as an activity was useful in reducing stress. It also assisted in treating a range of physical problems from lung disease and disabilities associated with stroke to dealing with high levels of obesity.
He advocated garden as 'complementary therapy.' He stated: 'Inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death. We must increase activity and improve the environment for people to exercise in. A lot of people think that backs are damaged by gardening but, if you garden properly, it increases the strength of your back. Some people say there's a gym outside your window.'
As physical exercise, digging for thirty minutes burns 202 calories, which is the same as lifting weights. He stated that turning compost was even more strenuous at 300 calories per thirty minutes, which is more than running on a treadmill.
In the Bible, there is the reminder that God saw His creation as being good (e.g. Genesis 1: 25). The psalmist stated, in response to observing nature around him: 'When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?' (Psalm 8: 3 - 4)
The therapeutic activity of gardening commences with Adam being put by God in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2: 15). The imagery of gardening continues throughout scripture (e.g. Jeremiah 29: 5) as something that God approves.
The bonus to gardening is that it aids us in our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing as an additional form of exercise. As the apostle Paul reminded us, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 19 - 20) and so we should look after it.
Regardless of whether we have a few indoor pots or a large estate (and anything in between including community gardening), we can join God in His creation and look after ourselves at the same time.
The speaker, who is the President of the Royal College of Physicians, stated that studies revealed that hospital gardens reduced stress for patients, and ornamental indoor plants in surgery recovery rooms had been shown to lead to a drop in the use of painkillers. Indeed, just viewing plants improved people's heart rates. He commented: 'A few minutes of viewing a green garden can improve a person's physiology,'
This remark was supported by a study by Robert Ulrich in 2002 which showed that hospital gardens improved moods, and reduced stress for patients, their families and for members of staff, but only if the gardens contained biodiversity. It was found that a 'sculpture bird garden' actually had a negative effect.
In the speech, Sir Richard remarked that the benefits of gardens to physical, mental and emotional health were well documented. In Egypt, court gardens were created for mental health whilst in Japan had a long history of contemplative gardens. In later times, hospitals in the United Kingdom were designed within garden or park settings.
It has also been shown that urban parks assisted in tackling respiratory disease, with a single tree having the capacity of removing 21.8 kg (48 lb) of particles such as back carbon (soot) and diesel matter from the air on a daily basis.
Sir Richard also pointed out that gardening as an activity was useful in reducing stress. It also assisted in treating a range of physical problems from lung disease and disabilities associated with stroke to dealing with high levels of obesity.
He advocated garden as 'complementary therapy.' He stated: 'Inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death. We must increase activity and improve the environment for people to exercise in. A lot of people think that backs are damaged by gardening but, if you garden properly, it increases the strength of your back. Some people say there's a gym outside your window.'
As physical exercise, digging for thirty minutes burns 202 calories, which is the same as lifting weights. He stated that turning compost was even more strenuous at 300 calories per thirty minutes, which is more than running on a treadmill.
In the Bible, there is the reminder that God saw His creation as being good (e.g. Genesis 1: 25). The psalmist stated, in response to observing nature around him: 'When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?' (Psalm 8: 3 - 4)
The therapeutic activity of gardening commences with Adam being put by God in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2: 15). The imagery of gardening continues throughout scripture (e.g. Jeremiah 29: 5) as something that God approves.
The bonus to gardening is that it aids us in our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing as an additional form of exercise. As the apostle Paul reminded us, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 19 - 20) and so we should look after it.
Regardless of whether we have a few indoor pots or a large estate (and anything in between including community gardening), we can join God in His creation and look after ourselves at the same time.
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