Natural Therapy

Its official, says Professor Kerryn Phelps spending time in nature improves sleep and reduces a range of health problems.

- Kerryn Phelps

Growing up, our lives revolved around the beach, small sailing boats and the bush. We would build cubby houses in the bushland near our home, climb trees, track the habits of the local wildlife, spend time at the beach or go fishing. All that time outdoors means I instinctively sense the need for connection with nature and the natural environment, and its impact on my wellbeing.

As a doctor, it is helpful to have substantial scientific evidence to back up one’s instincts. So it was very exciting to see a new research report saying that, for the sake of our health, we all ought to be spending a lot more time outdoors, in natural environments.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia examined data from over 140 studies involving more than 290 million people. According to the study, having regular exposure to green space increases your duration of sleep, and also reduces the risk of a range of health problems, specifically:

type 2 diabetes

cardiovascular disease

premature death

pre-term birth l stress

high blood pressure