A Practical Therapy: How Home Gardens Deliver Holistic Care to People

Is it the pleasant aroma of coffee while watching the butterflies do their nectar thing over the flowers or the relaxing sound of water as it drops and flows from one leaf to another? Whichever scene resonates with your mood, I'm pretty sure you're one of the many people who benefit from having a garden at home. And more than ever, this time of pandemic surely paved the way for more enthusiasts to discover gardening as a new hobby.

Now, you may be digging right there for some time without realizing why it feels so good to immerse your hands into the dirt. The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) pulled together the scientific evidence that shows how gardening and being in the garden helps us to be kept well. Let's talk about their findings.

"1. Gardens provide a place for experiencing nature which is proven to benefit mental health, cognitive functioning and emotional well-being." That's the reason why even people in urban places are drawn to filling their verandas with some greens. People can't go out for a vacation, but they can plant their "rest house vibes" at home which caters to their holistic needs, not to mention its aesthetic benefits.
"2. Gardening reduces depression, anxiety, obesity, and heart disease as well as increasing life satisfaction, quality of life and sense of community." Being locked down at home could mean isolation and lonesome thoughts, but a lot of people would surely agree at how plants made them physically active and happy even when friends or family could not get to visit because of the social protocols.
"3. Gardens are essential to supporting recovery from illness and merely looking at gardens can reduce stress, blood pressure, and muscle tension."Who wouldn't feel relaxed at the sight of colorful flowers and modest butterflies! The dangling leaves are definitely better to look at than just plain curtains and nearby buildings. Unarguably, a house with a garden is a suitable recovery aid to its inhabitants.

Whether having a few pots of succulents or a large vegetation area beside our home, gardeners of different age groups could validate the existence of a practical therapy brought by these greens that we grow. So, keep being healthy by growing more! Besides, it may be the only holistic therapy wherein we are the ones being paid for.