In the best of times flowers help us celebrate
the joyous occasions in our lives. In more
difficult times plants give us hope and
inspiration to meet life’s challenges.
The role of plants and gardens in
healing is ancient. As early as 3000 B.C. the
Chinese were using medicinal herbs.
The Greeks built a temple for Aesclepius,
their god of healing, set among
mineral springs, bathing pools, and healing gardens.
In colonial America, the Quakers
felt a deep attachment to nature and believed
gardens were a place of creativity.
One of the first programs to use plants in a
therapeutic setting was established
in 1879 at Philadelphia’s Friends Hospital
after a physician noticed that
psychiatric patients working in the hospital’s fields
and flower gardens were calmer and
that the gardens had a “curative” effect on them.
Within the past few decades, the
medical community is rediscovering the healing
power of gardens. Many hospitals and
health care facilities are incorporating green
spaces and gardens into their
surroundings; horticultural therapy programs are often
an important part of a patient’s
treatment.
Healing gardens can be found in a
variety of institutions including substance abuse
treatment centers, outpatient
clinics, long-term care facilities, hospices and retirement
homes, as well as in botanic gardens
and arboreta around the world. Positive results
can be less pain medication and had
shorter hospital stays.
For an individual recovering from a
serious illness such as cancer or stroke, gardens
can be an important part of healing
by providing hope and inspiration. They can
give patients a tranquil place to
escape from the world of doctors, hospitals and
sickness.
The physical efforts of
gardening—digging, planting, bending and walking—are
great forms of exercise to keep the
body healthy. Strenuous yard work such as
digging or weeding not only burns
calories, it is similar to weight training in
building bones and preventing
osteoporosis. Gardens and gardening activity
can also improve mental outlook and
our emotional mood by reducing stress,
anxiety and depression. Studies have
found that gardening can lower blood
pressure and cholesterol, which
reduces the risk of heart disease.
A healing garden can take many forms
but always provides interaction with
nature. Visually plants provide
inspirational colors or peaceful tones. We can
hear the relaxing sound of water or
the stimulating activity of visiting wildlife.
The rich aroma of fresh earth and
the delightful scent of perfumed herbs fill
the air we breathe, while the fresh
flavor of a crispy pea pod or sweet berry
tempts our taste buds. We can touch
the velvety smoothness of a flower petal
or be touched by the movement of
leaves in the wind.
Begin to create your own garden of
healing today simply by planting a container
filled with colorful flowers, a
nutritious vegetable, or a herb such as lavender,
sage, basil or thyme. In addition to
being attractive and aromatic, these and
many other herbs have been used
medicinally for centuries.
Incorporating a few
simple design elements turns
any garden into a place
of healing and inspiration.
- Grow plants that you find pleasing. Are you energized
by bright colors?
Then include annuals such as zinnias, petunias, sunflowers
or cosmos. If
you enjoy cooking, incorporate herbs, vegetables, and edible
flowers into
your garden. Plants such as sage or lavender can be
harvested and used for
aromatherapy.
- Include a place to sit and observe the beauty of nature
or a path for walking
through the garden.
Enclose it with shrubs or fencing to create a secluded
retreat.
- Add a focal point for meditation and reflection such as
a piece of sculpture,
a special plant, interesting rocks, wind chimes or a water
fountain.
- Encourage butterflies, birds, insects and other
wildlife to the garden for
their healing energy. Birdfeeders and birdhouses quickly and
easily begin
attracting garden visitors. Choose plants that supply nectar
and food
including coneflowers
(Echinacea purpurea), butterfly flower
(Aesclepias tuberosa) salvias (Salvia spp.),
dill, parsley, and sunflowers.
The design and development of a
healing garden, just like the process of healing
and recovery, takes place over time.
It is that journey and the time spent with
nature that heals our body and soul.
inspiration to meet life’s challenges.