Opinion – Sidney Klajner: Nature, where health flourishes

During the pandemic, the news we received with joy included not only the advance of vaccination and a decrease in Covid-19 cases, but also the relaxation of isolation and the reopening of parks, with the possibility of walking outdoors among the trees , listen to birdsong or simply contemplate the movement of water in a lake.

The restrictions imposed sharpened our desire to be in contact with nature, something that brings us feelings of well-being, relaxation and vigor.

This perception is justified. Scientific studies increasingly attest to the benefits of connecting to nature for physical and mental health. Among others, this proximity helps lower blood glucose, improves blood pressure and immunity, reduces stress, and promotes positive moods. In children, it helps in development, including in cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity.

In the 19th century, nurse Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), who worked in the Crimean War, already advocated the importance of fresh air, natural lighting and sunbathing in patient care. She is the creator of the so-called Environmentalist Theory. On his visit to the wounded soldiers, Nightingale also brought his pet tortoise, and he noted that the presence of the friendly reptile eased the patients’ anxiety.

In the 1980s, a study by architecture professor Roger Ulrisch showed that surgical patients housed in rooms overlooking green areas, compared to those who did not enjoy this privilege, had shorter hospital stays and required fewer analgesics, indicating that they felt less pain .

Whether promoting health or treating illnesses, nature-based interventions are gaining ground. In Japan, forest baths are popular – walks among the trees done slowly and quietly. As part of the routine, the practice helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce stress.

In Scotland, doctors have begun to prescribe bird watching and beach walks to help treat mental disorders, diabetes and heart disease. The relationship between nature and health is so crucial that the issue became an issue at COP26, the UN Conference on climate change.

In this scenario, research on the subject has multiplied and, in Brazil, Einstein is one of the institutions engaged in these studies. The multidisciplinary group e-Nature, for example, showed that contemplating nature photos can generate positive or negative emotions, depending on the image.

The initiative resulted in the creation of the first nature image bank aimed at promoting positive emotions for therapeutic purposes. Applied to patients undergoing chemotherapy, it helped to reduce pain, fatigue, sadness and anxiety.

In addition to integrating international organizations dedicated to the subject, Einstein recently promoted a symposium on the subject and is also a signatory of the São Paulo Declaration on Planetary Health, the first document of its kind, published in The Lancet magazine, in the context of preparations for COP15 ( on biodiversity) and COP26.

Even leaving aside the health dimension, there is another important aspect: studies show that the greater the person’s relationship level with nature, the more involvement they have with pro-environment behaviors. As you can see, sustainability and health can and should go hand in hand.