Garden Therapy: Relieving Stress through Horticulture

Gardening is one of the most therapeutic activities one can engage in. There is simply something about working with nature and its beauty. Since the beginning of time, the positive health benefits of gardening have been obvious. Curative for people of all ages, seniors especially, horticulture provides hours of enjoyment and stress relief by interacting with the wonders of nature.

Watering plants, planting seeds, pruning trees, all of the gardening activities will lift one’s spirits, making them feel alive and peaceful. Horticulture, itself, adds a sense of purpose and meaning to a person’s life.

Healthy Horticulture

Gardening is a key tool for improved health by providing exercise, stress reduction and relaxation. For many, a garden can be a place of escape, reducing stress levels and related issues like heart disease.  There has been an increased awareness in the restorative value of plants in hospitals and senior centers, and “healing gardens” are continuously being constructed in such places.

Whether indoors or out, horticulture is a remedial activity that stimulates neurological wiring while refreshing the soul. Because gardening requires a systematic approach, horticulture has many positive effects on those with disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s, where the activity has proven to slow decline and enhance thought processes. It also keeps mature seniors involved and active, leading to a more positive mental attitude and warding off depression.

According to Eva Shaw, PhD, author of Shovel It: Nature's Health Plan, gardening not only reduces stress, but also lowers blood pressure. A study done by Kaiser Permanente revealed that brainwave activity of a gardener mirrored that of someone praying or meditating.

Physical Benefits

Not only does gardening have a positive effect one’s emotional state and well being, it can also be a great form of moderate exercise. Manual labor and the continuous motion of working with ground and soil can help keep the body limber and responsive.

Based on scientific research, mild to moderate gardening activities can burn up to 300 calories per hour, whereas more strenuous horticultural activities can burn up to 600 calories per hour. For lawn maintenance, such as mowing and trimming, one can burn up to 360 calories every hour.

Nutritional and Cost-effective

Vegetable gardens are an inspiration in and of themselves. Those who have planted home vegetable gardens are known to eat more fruits and vegetables, reaping the benefits of improved nutrition while saving money in the meantime. For those on fixed or limited incomes, vegetable gardens offer a nice selection of fresh foods they may otherwise not buy or eat.

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