“How about a natural therapy for blood pressure, for anxiety, for depression?” asks Dr. Joel Kahn.
Joel Kahn, MD, FACC of Detroit, Michigan, is a preventive cardiologist and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kahn is also the founder of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity in Michigan and the author of several books on heart health and integrative medicine.
Today, he has important information to share regarding a study that concerns us all. What if you could lower daily asthma, psychotropic, or antihypertensive medication by a third or more? Imagine if you could do this by increasing the number of times you are exposed to nature. That is exactly what this study found.
In this video, Dr. Joel Kahn shares the results of a new study that reveals the cross-sectional associations of different types of nature exposure with psychotropic, antihypertensive, and asthma medication.
From Inconclusive to Statistically Significant
For context
It’s been widely known that exposure to nature can have a positive impact on mood by reducing stress, increasing feelings of calm and relaxation, and boosting overall mental well-being.
For example, exposure to natural environments like parks, forests, and bodies of water has been thought to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
However, reviews of previous studies made on this topic have evaluated the evidence and found it to be inconsistent or suggestive.
Enter Dr. Turunen
Dr. Anu W. Turunen of the Department of Health Security from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Kuopio, Finland, led a cross-sectional study to find consistent, statistically significant evidence to back this claim.
What did the study find?
Regardless of your socioeconomic status, you can lower your dependence on psychotropic, antihypertensive, and asthma medication by increasing the frequency with which you visit green and blue spaces.
Reversing Heart Disease Naturally
“I’m always looking for clues like this to try to reduce or avoid medication in my practice,” states Dr. Kahn, “and I’m sure you are looking for that too,” he adds.
As a preventive cardiologist, Dr. Kahn specializes in preventing and treating heart disease. In general, preventive cardiologists focus on helping patients maintain optimal heart health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease through lifestyle changes, medical treatments, and other interventions.
The goal of preventive cardiology is to reduce the risk of heart disease and promote heart health in individuals, regardless of their current heart health status. This type of medicine places a strong emphasis on lifestyle management to reduce the risk of symptoms and reverse heart disease naturally.
Dr. Joel Kahn is also the Co-Host of the upcoming Reversing Heart Disease Naturally Summit happening from February 28th to March 7th.
- Access the Reversing Heart Disease Naturally Summit
Learn from top leaders in the field the skills you need today.
Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing
“You’ve probably heard of Forest Bathing,” says Dr. Kahn, “for the past 30 years in Japan, this has been a common practice,” he adds.
Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a practice originating in Japan that involves immersing oneself in nature to improve health and well-being. The practice involves spending time in green spaces or other natural environments, such as bodies of water, to gain better psychological and physiological advantages and health.
Studies have shown that spending time in nature can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve mood, as well as boost the immune system. Forest bathing is considered a form of ecotherapy and is growing in popularity in recent years.
Immerse Yourself In Nature
“You have to go to them!” Exclaims Dr. Kahn, referring to forests, parks, lakes, and other bodies of water.
“But seeing Green or Blue views can also improve your health. If you can look out your house and see a lake, or a forest, or trees. That’s a nice little shortcut, too,” he adds.
Before you paint your walls blue and green, consider taking a walk to the nearest park.
Remember, it’s not the amount of time you spend outdoors that counts, but the number of visits you make that lead to the greatest improvement in your health.
Main Takeaways
What should you remember about nature and its effects on health?
- Visit natural landscapes often.
- This includes lake views, ocean views, and forest views.
- Doing so decreases your dependency on certain daily medications.
