Homeostasis & Nature

Transcription

1 Eva Selhub, MD

2 Homeostasis & Nature Every living organism seeks homeostasis. We are human beings, living organisms, meant to find homeostasis with other living organisms found in Nature. In other words, we need Nature to find our balance.

3 I think I am having stress Stress?

4 Stress Overload

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6 The Stress System Pupil Dilates Blood Vessel Trachea - Lungs Heart Stomach Liver Adrenal Gland Gonads Immune Cells Muscles Blood flow shifts to CNS and larger muscles Respirations Oxygen Consumption Heart rate Cardiac Output Digestion Glucose Release Epinephrine Norepinephrine Reproductive Hormones Immune Response Muscle Tension

7 Adaptive Coping Arousal Reaction 0 Stressor Time

8 Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Responses to Stress Arousal Reaction Maladaptive Adaptive Stressor Stressor Stressor

9 Drowning in Infotoxins Average screen/information consumption is 12 hours/day Since 1980 = massive increases in infoconsumption 350% increase in total non-work related consumption; 60% increase in time devoted to non-work consumption. 75% of workers aged check while on vacation. How much information? 2009 Report on American Consumers University of California, San Diego

10 Screentime Addiction Triggers dopamine reward system (like cocaine). Hard to separate valuable information from junk (like junk food). Feel good temporarily from jolt of dopamine, but soon gone and need more. The more you look at the screen, the harder it is to pull away.

11 Kids in Infotoxicity Outside of school 8 to 18 year olds: Devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes using entertainment media across a typical day plus an additional hour of texting 72% reported parents did not set TV watching rules 70% reported parents did not set rules about video game use 64% reported parents did not set rules about computer use. Generation M 2 : Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. January, 2010

12 Getting Back to Nature

13 Thoreau and the MRI Scanner Two studies participants viewed rural and urban scenes for a total of 2 minutes each followed by a 30 second rest. Within the rural and urban 2-minute set, photographs were presented every 1.5 sec. Both studies showed amygdala activity - significantly more active with urban scenes. Urban scenes anterior temporal pole - associated with subjective emotional responses in the negative realm anger and depression.

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16 Thoreau and the MRI Scanner Rural scenes produced activity in the areas of the brain associated with Emotional stability Empathy Love Response to happy faces and positive memories Pleasure

17 Nature and Stress Physiology Viewing nature scenes of conducting activities in nature scenes can lower objective markers of stress alpha wave activity in the brain (closer to a meditative state) cortisol Pulse, heart rate, blood pressure muscular tension

18 Nature and Hospitals Less self-reported pain and use of pain medications, higher energy levels, more positive thoughts and anxiety when plants are placed in the hospital and recovery rooms. Outdoor view to trees = significantly shorter hospital stays, less post-surgical complaints, less potent analgesic medications (aspirin instead of narcotics), lower amount of negative comments placed in the chart by nurses.

19 Some Cognitive Benefits improvements in post-walk cognition. Improved scores of executive attention = management of short-term memory and minimizing the interference of distractions Higher graduation rates of Michigan high school students and future plans for attendance at 4-year university programs. Higher scores of reading, language and math in elementary school students. Milder symptoms of attention deficit; windowless indoor play areas associated with more severe symptoms.

20 ShinRin Yoku Forest Bathing Go to forest. Walk. Open all your senses. Breathe. Repeat.

21 Shinrin-Yoku Benefits Boosted immune system functioning with elevated Natural Killer (NK) cells. Reduced blood pressure, reduced stress. Improved mood, improved energy level. Better focus, even in children with ADHD. Improved sleep and accelerated recovery from illness.

22 Inhalation of aromatic plant chemicals increases the antioxidant defense system in the human body. Phytoncides Produced from trees. Lower the production of stress hormones, reduce anxiety and increase pain threshold. The amount of phytoncide in the air, much higher in forest environments vs. urban areas without greenspace, has been associated with improved immune function. Higher airborne phytoncide = production of anticancer proteins in the blood, and front-line immune defense natural killer cells.

23 Negative Ions Natural components of air - can become quickly depleted within polluted external environments, enclosed, and air-conditioned rooms. Lowered by electronic devices, particularly those found in homes and offices such as computer screens, photocopy machines and televisions. The air in copy centers contains almost 5 times more positive ions vs. outdoor air on the same day. Higher in natural settings, after rain, near oceans, waterfalls and inside pine forests and woodlands.

24 Negative ions Benefits Reduction of stress, depression, anxiety and improved cognitive performance. Föhn winds of Switzerland, Austria and Southern Germany, the Chinook winds of Alberta are dry without negative ions - connected to irritability, headaches and low-grade depression. Patients prone to panic attacks are much less likely to experience panic after rain when negative ion count is high. Anxiety, suspicion and mania have been provoked in environments with a preponderance of positive ions and lower content of negative ions.

25 Green Exercise Run faster. More enjoyment, less frustration. Decreases perceptions of fatigue and physical symptoms that might otherwise interfere with exercise adherence. More positive thoughts and perception of less overall exertion during the outdoor sessions. Forest exercise elevates mood and vigor, while lowering scores of fatigue, tension and anger, cortisol and other stress hormones.

26 Wilderness Camp Cure 5-day forest camping programs (some inclusive of challenges such as rock climbing and hiking, as well as group activities) have proven effective in improving depression among otherwise healthy college students, and in adults with alcohol addiction. Recent study highlights a collaborate effort with physicians, mental health and forestry experts; 9-day forest program that begins with simple forest experience in the camp, then between days 3 to 6 there is an adventure-challenge portion, and for the wind-down between days 7-9, there is an introspection component involving meditation and counseling within the forest setting.

27 Greenspace and Longevity Japan: significant protective effect of higher forest coverage and rates of various cancers lung, breast, uterine, prostate, kidney and colon cancers. US: 5 years worth of data on stroke mortality. Geographic greenspace =significant protection vs. areas low in greenspace = very high risk of stroke mortality. Shanghai, China: Higher proportion of neighborhood parks, gardens and green areas were associated with a reduced risk of mortality.

28 Our Ancestors Knew Nature & spirit intertwined. Animal totems & spirit guides. Medicine came from understanding nature. Respected nature. Followed the rhythms of nature. Not separate from nature.

29 We are nature. Eva Sehub, MD