Growing up in the UK at a time before the advent of the world wide web, playtime for kids (when the weather was good) meant playing outside in the garden.
We had a swing and climbing set and a small pond that sometimes held frogspawn. But my favourite play spot was a small space underneath the large glossy leaves of a magnolia tree where I would spend hours, doing I’m not quite sure what, entertaining myself playing with leaves, bugs and twigs.
Little did I know that my play was not only teaching me more about the natural world, but it was also helping to keep me healthy.
“How so?”, you ask.
The human immune system
Our immune system is designed to keep us safe from potential infection or other harmful agents. Beyond the skin that provides a natural barrier against germs, the immune system comprises white blood cells, the lymphatic system including the lymph glands, our spleen, bone marrow and thymus. In kids, specialised areas of tissue – the tonsils and adenoids regularly work to protect against pathological invaders.
The immune system is kept strong through exposure to different pathogens, helping to protect the body from bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and viral infection.
It’s been recognised that kids brought up in rural areas where they have greater exposure to dust, dirt and different animals have more stress-resilient immune systems in adulthood.
There’s something else going on too.
How nature influences the immune system
Many trees and plants produce phytocides, natural volatile compounds shown to strengthen the immune system with their antimicrobial action.
When close to moving water (the ocean and rivers and lakes) and forested mountainous areas, the air contains high levels of negative ions, which have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression.
While in soil, a non-pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae has been shown to have an immune-regulating effect in addition to a long-lasting anti-inflammatory effect on the brain.
It’s the interconnection between our human microbiome (skin and gut bugs) and the rhizosphere, the soil’s equivalent, that leads to a greater diversity of our gut bugs that is the gold.
In other words, contact with soil directly contributes to human health.
If you were hoping for an invite to attend a mud spa, now you know it’s not only fun, but will also doing you good at the same time.
Do you enjoy time in nature getting down and dirty or pottering in the garden?
