12/18/2025
Just a reminder to get outside today 🌲🌿 Some ways that Mother Nature mothers: 🌞Sunshine: The exposure to sun produces vitamin D but also results in release of other chemicals that uplift mood, promote relaxation, and provide pain relief like endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. 🕊️Birdsongs: Several studies have researched the effect of bird songs on our nervous system. One study found that within 6 minutes of of listening to bird songs, anxiety and paranoia were significantly reduced. Another study of 40 participants found that nature sounds facilitated recovery from sympathetic activation after a psychological stress. 🌊Cold water: Increases production of beta endorphins and noradrenaline the “feel good” chemicals that will give you a sense of wellbeing. Studies have shown that just looking at a body of water can induce a relaxation response and decrease heart rate and blood pressure. 🗻Nature views: Studies have shown nature views helps patients tolerate pain, overcome adverse effects, and have lower length of stay at the hospital. 🌻 Flowers: Many flowers have healing properties (ex: lavender, chamomile, calendula). In addition when you see a flower dopamine is released which makes you feel good. When you smell an aromatic flower, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins are released as well as the limbic system is activated. Smelling it can relieve stress and anxiety, reduce pain, increase alertness and mental clarity, and promote feelings of calmness by shifting the body into a parasympathetic state. 🌲Tree aromas: Studies have shown that a walk in the forest can decrease stress hormones such as cortisol, decreases proteins involved in inflammation, increase relaxation, and increase NK cell activity. If you are unable to visit the forest, several studies have shown that diffusing essential oils derived from trees can have similar effects.
