The Impact of Naturopathic Medicine on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Key Takeaways:

• Naturopathic Medicine helps calm the nervous system and ease PTSD symptoms
• Includes methods like forest bathing, gardening, and outdoor walks
• Studies show it lowers stress hormones, boosts mood, and improves sleep

Imagine camping in a quiet forest, lounging by a lake, or embarking on a long nature walk on a beautiful sunny day. Think of the fresh air, the sound of gurgling creeks and chirping birds, and the scent of nature ripe in your nostrils. 

This sensory overload, in essence, is nature therapy, or ecotherapy, as it is sometimes called, in action. 

While it isn’t a magic cure, nature therapy does offer plenty of physical and mental benefits. Many of these benefits are backed by science and will be heavily discussed in this article. 

We will also look into why nature therapy is widely considered an effective treatment for PTSD and the impact it has had on those living with trauma. 

What Is PTSD?

PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – a psychiatric condition that occurs when an overwhelming or life-threatening event creates feelings of uncontrollable fear and helplessness that your brain just can’t shake off.

Those living with PTSD report a wide range of symptoms that fall under four categories; 

• Intrusion: re-experiencing unwanted and involuntary thoughts, vivid flashbacks, and nightmares resulting in physical symptoms like sweating, rapid heartbeat, headaches, stomachaches, and uncontrollable shaking.
• Avoidance: avoiding anything that can trigger distressing memories, including intentionally distancing oneself from people, places, objects, and even certain thoughts and feelings.
• Changes in mood and cognition: develop feelings of anxiety, negative self-beliefs, and a lack of interest or longing for things that once brought joy.
• Changes in arousal and reactivity: persistent feelings of fear, guilt, or anger, mood swings, acting recklessly, being overly paranoid, and having difficulty with sleeping and concentration.

How Can Nature Therapy Help?

Naturopath Dr. Alan Logan, the author of Your Brain on Nature, stated in an interview with Precision Nutrition that “Spending time in nature is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most effective ways to support mental health.” 

Being in nature has a soothing and awe-inspiring effect, which reduces stress and improves mental and physical health. It can also lower risks of depression, stress, anxiety, and feelings of anger, as well as heighten concentration, improve self-esteem and increase self-confidence. 

For those living with PTSD, regulating emotions and finding inner peace can be extremely challenging. Nature therapy can help bridge that gap, allowing patients to reconnect with their bodies and the natural world.

How Nature Impacts the Brain

Your brain’s emotional response centre, referred to as the amygdala, goes into overdrive when faced with a traumatic event. 

Nature therapy can help:

• Reduce activity in the parts of the brain linked to anxiety and fear
• Lower cortisol, your main stress hormone
• Boosts serotonin, a feel-good chemical that improves mood

A 2019 study published in the Frontiers of Psychology observed that people living in urban areas, who actively spent at least 20 minutes a day in nature, had much lower cortisol levels than those who didn’t.

Another 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also found similar results. The study showed reductions in “self-reported rumination and decreases in sgPFC activity” for urban dwellers who walked 90 minutes in a natural setting than those who didn’t.

That’s not all. 

In 2019, a UC Berkeley research team tracked psychological and physiological changes in a group of war veterans and at-risk youth during a four-day white-water rafting trip in Utah’s Green River. Their findings, published in the journal Emotion and APA PsycNet, showed an average reduction of 29% in PTSD symptoms, a 21% reduction in stress, and an 8-10% improvement in social relationships, happiness, and life satisfaction.

Types of Nature Therapy Techniques

Nature therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. It encompasses numerous techniques or activities that often involve interacting with nature. This includes things like petting animals, growing plants, enjoying wilderness settings, and partaking in nature-focused arts and crafts.

Here are some of the most common types of nature therapy techniques, which can be done solo or in a group.

• Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): A slow, mindful walk in the woods. Helps reduce stress and promote well-being.
• Gardening and horticultural therapy: Digging, planting, and working with soil. Fosters a connection to nature and keeps individuals feeling more grounded.
• Ecotherapy: Guided outdoor sessions accompanied by a therapist or coach. Used to achieve a range of therapeutic benefits.
• Wilderness therapy: This form of therapy is used to promote growth and push individuals to take on challenges that often involve immersing themselves in nature, usually in remote locations.
• Green exercise: Walking, hiking, running, cycling, or doing yoga outside instead of indoors.
• Animal-Assisted Therapy: Interacting with animals in nature to help reduce stress and improve mental health.
• Nature-Based Activities: Partaking in outdoor activities like swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, climbing, painting, etc.

These nature therapy techniques aren’t designed just to make people feel good. They’re designed to reconnect people with their body and mind through nature’s healing powers.

Can Nature Therapy Replace Traditional Therapy?

No, not exactly. 

As we mentioned at the start of this article, nature therapy isn’t a magic cure for PTSD. It is rather a tool or technique that can help traditional PTSD treatments like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) work more effectively.

Evidence of this was found in a 2022 study published in the Frontiers in Psychology. The study concluded that when nature therapy was combined with group CBT for trauma survivors, it led to stronger, longer-lasting improvements than CBT alone.

Challenges of Nature Therapy

Living in Nova Scotia, we are lucky to be blessed with plenty of natural beauty. The island is covered with acres of wild forests, pristine lakes and rivers, rocky beaches, and a plethora of outdoor activities to keep active and connected with nature. 

However, those living busy lives in cities like Halifax or Dartmouth may not get easy access to nature. Nova Scotia’s long winters can also get in the way of being outside.

But that shouldn’t stop nature therapy. While being outside is important, nature can also be brought into your home.

At Spectrum Therapeutic Solutions, we encourage our clients to connect with nature even when indoors. Growing indoor plants, having a sunny porch, or maintaining an immaculate garden can all be equally therapeutic.

The Future of Nature Therapy

While nature therapy has been around for centuries, maybe even millennia, it is arguably more important than ever. 

We live in a world where we spend most of our time behind walls, in windowless rooms, or staring at screens. Rapid urbanization has also led to limited access to nature in many parts of the world.

Today, therapists are utilizing technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to help those who can’t go outside connect with nature, at least to a certain degree. 

As our lives get busier and more stressful, the need for nature therapy is only expected to increase in the coming years. It is a growing field that holds a lot of promise.

FAQs

Q1) What is nature therapy? 

Any kind of healing practice that uses nature, like walking in a forest or gardening, to help people feel better physically and emotionally can be attributed to nature therapy.

Q2) How does nature therapy help with PTSD? 

Nature therapy helps lower stress hormones, calms the nervous system, improves sleep, and creates a sense of safety and connection with your inner self.

Q3) Can it replace traditional therapy? 

Not usually. But it works great with traditional therapy and even conventional medication. Think of it as a booster for improving mental health.

Therapeutic Support in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Nature therapy isn’t a trend. It’s a return to something deeply human. 

When trauma makes the world feel unsafe, nature reminds us that healing is possible.

At Spectrum Therapeutic Solutions, we’re proud to offer trauma-informed care that includes nature-based approaches. Whether it’s outdoor sessions, guided walks, or personalized therapy plans, we help people reconnect with their strengths and the world around them.

Call (902) 932-2395 or book an appointment with one of our incredible therapists and clinicians.