Every tiny part of our beautiful and mysterious world is interconnected. The birds flying through the cloudy blue sky, the fish swimming deep within the depths of the ocean, even the worms in the soil beneath our feet; everything that encompasses nature is stupendously connected to you. We are but cosmic dust, an unfathomably intricate combination of atoms and elements that are found in nature, and that is precisely why Nature has the power to heal us.
Modern medicine is our go-to solution for all our ailments, and rightfully so. One cannot deny the fact that an over-the-counter pain relief tablet works faster and better than an essential oil or homemade remedy. The key here is not to discount one form of healing for the other. Both modern medicine and alternative medicinal practices such as Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Naturopathy have their own benefits. The trick is to know which one to use based on the severity of the situation and your symptoms.
For example, if your throat starts to feel itchy, try gargling with salt water and have a tablespoon of honey with ginger juice instead of just popping a tablet. If you have digestive issues or abdominal pain, have a cup of peppermint tea and watch as you feel instantly better. Of course, if these simple natural remedies don’t work for you then it is always prudent to use your over-the-counter options.
Sometimes our bodies aren’t the only part of us that desperately needs healing, in fact, more often than not, it is our minds that need help. Perhaps due to societal stigma and taboo or simply because we’re so busy with our fast-paced lives, we neglect the importance of our mental health. Take a moment to stop and evaluate yourself. Do you feel tired easily? Are you stressed often? Are you lonely or sad? Do you sleep too much or sleep too little? If your answer is yes to any or all of these, then it’s time to focus and prioritize your mental health.
Not everyone is okay or comfortable with the idea of going to a therapist or even talking about their feelings, luckily there is something else that they can do— Ecotherapy.
Ecotherapy, also known as Nature Therapy, is a free-for-all therapy session that alleviates stress, reduces anxiety, and boosts positivity. All you need to do to clear your mind of your worries and troubles is have a picnic at the closest park, go on a trek to a nearby forest or go for a mini-vacation to a plantation or hill station.
Tree hugging, which is a part of ecotherapy, works wonders for your mental health. While it might sound silly to hug a tree, studies have shown that tree hugging triggers your brain to increase the production of oxytocin, a.k.a. the love hormone. This rush of oxytocin makes you feel calmer and happier, thereby improving your state of mind.
Meditating amongst nature is another ecotherapy practice. Stilling your mind from invasive thoughts and breathing in the clean fresh oxygen brings about a feeling of serenity and works wonders for your holistic wellbeing. If something is troubling you or on your mind, you can even try voicing it out loud. Sometimes hearing your thoughts out loud helps you deal with tough emotions and situations. And there’s no need to feel shame or judgement, the only thing around you is trees and more trees.
It is normal not to have time to get out of the city and immerse yourself in nature, but what you can do is bring nature to you. Introducing indoor potted plants into your house, starting a kitchen garden or urging your building society to plant more trees are some of the few ways to get the green quotient you need. Sure, not all of us are blessed with a green thumb but there’s a solution for that— Succulents and Cacti! These plants require the least amount of maintenance and are the perfect aesthetic touch to add to your apartment. Just pop them in an area that gets a good amount of sunlight, and water them on a monthly basis, and watch as they flourish.
We often take for granted the clean air, fresh drinking water, and healing powers of nature because we receive it for free and therefore treat it as if it has little or no value, but it is a must to remember the importance of mother nature. Be it ecotherapy or alternative natural medicine, nature is always there to aid in our wellbeing the only thing we have to do is embrace it.
“Sometimes, the most productive thing that you can do is to step outside and do nothing… relax and enjoy nature.”― Melanie Charlene
Written By Jessica Albuquerque,
Week 35, September 2021
