Combating stress: green care in human health and wellness

Exposure to nature and plants can be both physically and psychologically healing and is an effective means of combating stress in our daily lives. The Stress Recovery or Reduction Theory proposed by Roger Ulrich in 1991 can be applied in both micro and macro environments - i.e. at home or office and also to towns and cities. Adding trees, indoor plants, green spaces can significantly contribute to city or town planning and is necessary for urban planning. Attention Restoration theory emphasizes the fact that exposure to nature can actually remove fatigue and restore attention thus enabling better focus on work. Plants release chemicals called phytoncides stimulating the production of mood-boosting or happy hormones in humans – serotonin and endorphins. Plants release these volatile organic compounds phytoncides which are inhaled by humans causing a sense of ‘happiness’ and ‘well-being.’ Thus besides emitting oxygen as by-product plants actually trigger a sense of ‘happiness’ in humans. Merely by gazing at plants and greens, there is reduction in stress hormone -cortisol levels. Thus being in the presence of nature can be mentally stimulating and advantageous for overall health and wellness.