What is Nature-Based Medicine and What Does It Do?
1CHEF Clinic, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
|July 10, 2023
Summary
Nature-based medicine, a growing field, offers a prescriptive approach to preventing and treating chronic illnesses like anxiety and obesity. This evidence-based practice utilizes natural environments to improve health and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Environmental Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Personal health and well-being are linked to engagement with natural environments.
- Nature deficiency contributes to chronic illnesses such as anxiety, depression, diabetes, and obesity, conditions exacerbated by the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce nature-based medicine as a viable approach for preventing and treating disease.
- To highlight the potential of nature-based interventions for improving overall well-being.
Main Methods:
- Nature-based medicine involves the evidence-based use of natural settings and interventions.
- It integrates specific activities in nature with medical science for self-care.
- This approach aims to be accessible to all, irrespective of proximity to green or blue spaces.
Main Results:
- Nature-based medicine has a growing scientific evidence base, though it is not widely known.
- It has been practiced in Asia and the EU for decades, while emerging in the U.S.
Conclusions:
- Nature-based medicine offers a novel yet established method for disease prevention and treatment.
- Education and training are crucial for both clinicians and patients to adopt and prescribe nature-based medicine effectively.
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