Nature's Healing Touch: The Neuroscience Behind Blue and Green Spaces

By Todd Caranto, Founder, Pau Hana Surf Supply 

At Pau Hana, each of us has a profound connection with the natural world, and we've always known that being outdoors is more than a leisure activity. It's a deeply therapeutic and transformational remedy for the stress and strain of daily life. This belief, born from our personal experiences, is now being echoed by emerging research in environmental psychology and neuroscience. We're learning that nature is not merely a backdrop for recreation but an essential key to restoration and relaxation.

The Emotional and Psychological Benefits of Nature

Through our explorations, we've discovered that nature's blue and green spaces play a crucial role in mental and emotional health. These serene environments, rich in lush vegetation and tranquil waters, extend beyond visual appeal. They serve as sanctuaries for the mind, significantly alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, fostering mood stability, and elevating overall mental well-being. This insight represents a significant shift, especially for mental health professionals and those exploring nature-based therapeutic interventions. A study across 18 countries found that recreational visits to green and blue spaces are significantly and positively associated with well-being and dense urban areas are negatively associated with mental distress¹.

Pioneering Insights: Dr. Qing Li and Shinrin-Yoku

A pivotal figure in this exploration is Dr. Qing Li, whose work in Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, has been instrumental. His journey into this field began with an observation that environments rich in trees and vegetation seemed to have a calming effect on humans. He hypothesized that this wasn't just a psychological response but also involved physiological changes in the body. His studies have highlighted the numerous health benefits of spending time in forest environments, ranging from stress reduction to improved cardiovascular and metabolic health. Shinrin-Yoku involves a mindful immersion in the forest, engaging all the senses to experience nature's therapeutic essence².

The Neuroscientific Basis of Nature's Restorative Power: The Blue Zone Effect

Neuroscientific research has made significant strides in understanding how blue zones, areas abundant in water, profoundly impact our brains. A key aspect of this is sensory engagement and the resulting stress response. The tranquil sounds of water, characteristic of blue zones, serve as a natural stress reliever, known to lower cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone, thereby reducing overall stress³. In these settings, activities like paddleboarding amplify the benefits. John J. Ratey, a Harvard Psychiatry professor, notes that physical movement in these environments reduces anxiety by lowering tension and boosting serotonin level⁴. Dr. Michael Craig Miller, also from Harvard, adds that such exercises promote hippocampal growth, enhancing mood regulation and combating depression⁵.

Furthermore, the serene water surroundings lead to decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in processing stress and emotions, promoting mental relaxation⁶. This is complemented by paddleboarding, which also encourages mindfulness, grounding, and social interaction, essential for mental well-being. Additionally, exposure to blue zones and engaging in paddleboarding induces a shift in the autonomic nervous system towards parasympathetic activity, enhancing 'rest-and-digest' functions and reducing 'fight-or-flight' responses⁷. Moreover, these environments influence the release of neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin, associated with happiness and relaxation. This neurochemical change, coupled with the environments’ encouragement of mindfulness and altered brain wave patterns, leads to a relaxed yet focused mental state. In essence, the interaction with blue zones, particularly through activities like paddleboarding, triggers a series of neurological processes, from sensory engagement to neurochemical release, culminating in a profound relaxation and stress-reduction effect.

Biophilia: Our Natural Affinity for the Outdoors

The concept of 'biophilia,' introduced by E.O. Wilson, resonates deeply with our experiences. It suggests an innate affinity towards nature, an idea now supported by empirical research, which helps explain why blue and green spaces, as well as practices like forest bathing, resonate so deeply with us⁸.

The Transformative Power of Nature in Daily Life

Our experiences at Pau Hana, coupled with this body of research, highlight the need to integrate natural spaces into our daily lives. These insights provide compelling evidence for mental health professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and urban planners that embracing nature is essential for holistic health and well-being.

Reimagining Our Connection with Nature

We at Pau Hana believe in the power of nature as the ultimate antidote to modern life's stressors. It's a pathway to a balanced, emotionally enriched life. As we continue to explore and share these insights, we invite you to join us in reimagining our connection with nature. It's not just about taking a break; it's about engaging in a profoundly restorative experience that rejuvenates our minds and bodies.

Citations:

1. White, M. P., Elliott, L. R., Grellier, J., Economou, T., Bell, S., Bratman, G. N., Cirach, M., Gascon, M., Lima, M. L., Lõhmus, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., Schultz, P. W., van den Bosch, M., & Fleming, L. E. (2021). Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 8903. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87675-0

2. Li, Q. (2018). Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness. Viking.

3. University of Washington. (2022). Treating the blues: how blue spaces have a positive impact on mental health. Available at: https://smea.uw.edu/currents/treating-the-blues-how-blue-spaces-have-a-positive-impact-on-mental-health/

4. Ratey, John J. (Featured in). The Effects of Exercise on the Brain with Dr. John Ratey. KineSophy. Available at: KineSophy Article

5. Miller, Michael Craig. Harvard Health Publishing. Articles on exercise and mental health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/

6. Chang, W. H., Lee, I. H., Chi, M. H., et al. (2020). Prefrontal cortex modulates the correlations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, serotonin, and the autonomic nervous system. Scientific Reports, 10, 11640. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-68740-w

7. Otti, A., Guendel, H., Wohlschlaeger, A., et al. (2009). The ventro-medial prefrontal cortex: a major link between the autonomic nervous system, regulation of emotion, and stress reactivity BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 3.

8. https://bpsmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1751-0759-3-15

Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.