I am a keen albeit amateur gardener that derives a great deal of pleasure and dare I say therapeutic benefit from my gardening endeavours. I would like to share the following information that I gathered with the purpose of supporting a GP practice funding application to create a therapeutic space for patients to meet and engage with nature through creating and managing a small garden. We all acknowledge the wonderful healing power of nature and Sir Muir Grey, an internationally renowned authority on healthcare systems famously said that everyone needs a “Natural Health Service” as well as a NHS. As with any funding application proposal there needs to be a rationale, a justification for the project supported by research evidence. In 2016 a research meta-analysis (Soga, Gaston and Yamaura) of health effects of gardening and horticulture revealed a wide range of health benefits including reduction in mass body index and increases in life satisfaction, QoL and self-esteem. More recently the Royal Horticultural Society’s RHS own research “Why gardening makes us feel better-and how to make the most of it” showed that those who garden everyday have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower that people who don’t garden at all. The research also found that 30 mins of gardening is comparable to playing badminton, volleyball or practicing Yoga. The mental and emotional benefits of gardening were highlighted in a Public Health study published in 2020 entitled Community Gardening: Stress, wellbeing and resilience potentials, that found community gardeners reported higher levels of resilience and optimism than the non-gardening control group. These results indicate some potential for mental health benefits in urban environments specifically in terms of subjective wellbeing and resilience. A 2022 study (Ainamani et al NIH.gov) endorsed gardening further as a therapeutic intervention that benefits high QoL, sleep improvement increased hope, happiness, reduction of symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety. The final piece was a Kings Fund “Gardens and Health” report on the health benefits of gardening, findings were broad and diverse- with research studies showing significant reductions in depression and anxiety and improved social functioning. In summing up the studies showed gardening to be truly holistic in approach and delivery and emphasized the impact of preventative practices that benefit patients being supported by reported positive outcomes for the mental, physical, emotional and social wellbeing of participants. With an aging population and healthcare costs rising preventative healthcare has become a topic of conversation with a renewed importance. The holistic principles and methods of delivery of Complementary Therapy modalities are underpinned by the concept of preventative practices……in other words keeping the population both physically and mentally well. Inviting the professionally experienced complementary therapists to join the conversation and to utilize their skills in the process of educating and supporting patients should be considered by decision makers when addressing the health needs of patients going forward. It is worth pointing out that just as seeking and maintaining good mental and physical wellbeing is not confined to the older generation neither are the benefits of gardening. Being able to grow and consume home grown vegetables, using simple to grow herbs to flavour dishes that may help your digestive system and you to feel better is good energy. I encourage the very young and not so young in my family to get involved. The pleasure the little ones get from measuring the growth of their sunflowers or picking and eating their peas are wonderful moments in time = good memory making. If you would like some ideas on which herbs to grow for health, get in touch. Please be aware certain herbs and “natural” supplements are contra-indicted with some GP prescribed medications check with your pharmacist before engaging in eating or drinking homemade infusions or “teas” made from herbs. Gardening is perfectly harmless! however if you suffer an aching back from doing too much consider some reflexology again perfectly harmless it can only help!
