GARDENING: NATURE'S CURE FOR THE BLUES

 

The time has arrived for us to plunge our hands in the dirt, not the least because it is good for us. Author, journalist, and ghostwriter Greta Burroughs explains the underlying physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of gardening on my blog today. It is an honor to include her among my roster of super guests. –Linda Lee Greene, Author/Artist

 

GARDENING: NATURE'S CURE FOR THE BLUES

From Greta Burroughs, Author/Journalist/Ghostwriter

It’s been one of those days. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. All you want is for the work day to end allowing you the luxury of escaping to the quiet, calming solitude of your garden. It’s what your mind and body have been craving all day – a chance to soothe away the stress, anger, and frustration that’s been threatening to boil over.

It’s hard to describe the all-encompassing sensation you experience as you inhale the earthy scent of the disturbed earth and feel the grainy texture of the cool soil as it runs through your fingers. It’s so relaxing – sifting through the dirt, being surrounded by lush vegetation, listening to the buzz from insects, all while becoming one with nature.  The garden serves as your refuge from the world, a safe place to get rid of all your nagging cares and worries. It’s your happy place.

GARDENING HELPS US WHEN WE’RE FEELING BLUE

The solution for getting rid of the blues lies right under our feet, thanks to Mother Nature.

There’s a microbe in the soil called Mycobacterium vaccae that has the similar effect on the brain as Prozac. The microbe stimulates serotonin production and makes us feel relaxed and happier without any negative side effects or the possibility of chemical dependency. And the natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can last for up to three weeks.

Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, and bipolar problems. The number of folks being diagnosed with one of these disorders continues to increase at an appalling rate. Many of them have to rely on daily medications to keep their symptoms at bay. Could gardening help some of them to reduce or stop using chemical antidepressants?

Natural remedies have been around since ancient times. Healers didn’t know how or why they worked. They just knew they did, and that was good enough for them. With the advent of modern medicine, many of the old practices languished, relegated to the ‘don’t need them anymore’ pile.

Not everyone forgot though. This recent scientific discovery of nature’s ability to ease stress and help a person relax is no surprise to farmers and gardeners who’ve always known the mood-soothing power of dirt.

And now there’s proof. When a gardener claims to feel better after spending a few hours playing in the dirt, science has proven she’s not just imagining it. Inhaling the M. vaccae bacteria, absorbing it by topical contact or getting it in the bloodstream through a cut produce an increase of chemicals called cytokines which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. In other words, working or playing in the dirt really does make you feel good.

It doesn’t matter if you have a large garden in the country or a small plot in the city, you get the same result. The best way to come in contact with the bacteria is by simply getting your hands dirty. But it can also be ingested through water sources or by eating lettuce, carrots or other veggies grown in your garden.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE

There are other benefits to being outside working in the garden. When was the last time you went barefooted? Admit it, feeling the soil squish between your toes is just as much fun now as it was when you were a kid.

According to holistic wellness practitioners, earthing or grounding yourself helps with anxiety or stress. How do you do that? Walk barefooted outside. Bruce Lynch, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) explains that the Earth is constantly being renewed with negatively charged electrons.  When bare skin (hands or feet) comes in contact with the surface, electrons enter our bodies activating our para-sympathetic nervous system lowering cortisol levels which in turn reduce inflammation and stress.

So whether it’s through microbes or electrons, we benefit from gardening. Christopher Lowry, the neuroscientist responsible for the breakthrough studies on M. vaccae in mice notes that this is just one strain of one species of one type of bacterium found in the soil, but there are millions of other strains in soils. "We are just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg in terms of identifying the mechanisms through which they have evolved to keep us healthy. It should inspire awe in all of us."

Lowry also believes in the theory that we’ve been living too clean. People who don’t spend time working or playing outdoors aren’t exposed to the harmless microorganisms in the environment that train our immune systems to ignore benign molecules like pollen. This results in higher incidences of illnesses such as allergies and asthma.

He has published numerous studies demonstrating a link between exposure to healthy bacteria and mental health. One showed that children raised in a rural environment, surrounded by animals and bacteria-laden dust, grow up to have more stress-resilient immune systems and may be at lower risk of mental illness than pet-free city dwellers.

So, the moral of this story – gardening is good for you. Go ahead, get that trowel and go play in the dirt. I guarantee, you’ll feel a whole lot better when you’re done.

And if anybody tells you you’re crazy for referring to your garden as a happy place, just smile. You know better.

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Greta Burroughs is a freelance journalist, author, and ghostwriter. As a journalist, she has written numerous articles for both print and online publications. Greta enjoys the challenge of hunting down new information, and transforming dry facts and quotes into interesting, informative stories that grab and hold the readers’ interest. She believes that's the best part of being a writer - acquiring new knowledge and sharing it in a way that encourages readers to want to learn more. https://gretaburroughs.weebly.com/

Another interest of hers is writing books. Greta’s nonfiction book, “Heartaches and Miracles,” combines personal experience and researched information together with a positive pep talk for anyone suffering with the autoimmune blood disorder called Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Her fiction focuses on a younger audience. The four-book series, “Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat” targets younger children. The stories follow the antics of a silly dog and his best friend as they learn valuable lessons while out exploring the world around them.

Greta’s middle-grade “Wee People” fantasy series consists of two books following two teens who answer a plea for help and wind up stranded on another world. In book one, the boys devise a way for the wee people to out-maneuver a demented forest god, but not everything goes as planned. In the second adventure, the wee people need assistance when a mysterious visitor trapped within the depths of a mirror connects their two worlds uncovering secrets no one is happy to discover.  http://booksbygretaburroughs.weebly.com/

Her experience as a journalist and author paved the way for her latest venture - ghostwriting. Many people out there have a story to tell but lack the time, experience, or courage to attempt such a daunting task. She and Dannye Williamsen work closely with their clients to perfect the message the novice authors wish to tell in the voice they want it delivered in. For more information about ghostwriting services please visit Heart Song Ghostwriting at https://www.heartsongghostwriting.com/

Whether its books, articles or helping others tell their tale, Greta will continue following her passion for writing for the rest of her life.