The Nature Cure: Reclaiming Health through the Great Outdoors

The herd of 400-pound caribou was running 50 miles an hour and directly at me. The thirty animals had been eating lichen in the Arctic tundra of Alaska when something spooked them. I was sitting in their escape route. The ground began to vibrate once they cracked 100 yards. At 50 yards, I could see their hooves smashing the ground and kicking up moss and moisture. Then they were at 40 yards, then 35.

I could hear their breathing, smell their coats, and see all the details of their ornate antlers. Just as I was wondering if the rescue plane would be able to spot my hoof-pocked corpse, one of the caribou noticed me and swerved. The herd followed, shaking the earth as they swept left and summited a hillcrest, their antlers black against a gold sky.

That moment when those caribou shook the earth also shook my soul. It was transcendent, wild as a religious experience. And it was just the beginning of an Alaskan adventure filled with savage weather, raging rivers, and a half-ton grizzly bear. Far from the clutches of urban stress, my mind felt liberated, resonating with a clarity akin to a monk after a month at a meditation retreat. E. O. Wilson described it aptly: “Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive, and even spiritual satisfaction.”

Returning from the wild, I felt as if a Zen-like buzz clung to me for months. To make sense of this phenomenon, I met with Rachel Hopman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Northeastern University. She introduced me to the concept of the nature pyramid, a paradigm outlining the amount of time we should spend in nature for optimal mental and physical health. Instead of servings of vegetables or meat, it prescribes doses of the great outdoors.

20 Minutes

The first recommendation is a mere 20 minutes. A brief escape into a nearby park or botanical garden, three times a week. Hopman led a groundbreaking study which concluded that even a short walk can enhance cognition, memory, and well-being. “However,” she cautioned, “we found that people using their cell phones during these walks experienced none of those benefits.”

Research suggests that just three sessions of 20 minutes outside can significantly lower cortisol, the stress hormone, improving overall mood. In nature, our brains engage in a mode termed “soft fascination,” which allows for restoration and creativity. This mode fosters mindfulness without the arduous task of formal meditation—think of it as a gentle nudge towards clarity.

Citing additional studies, Hopman explained, “In nature, we naturally engage with unique stimuli such as fractals—complex patterns that repeat in various sizes. These patterns are prevalent in trees, rivers, and even mountain ranges, unlike the unyielding right angles of urban landscapes.”

5 Hours

As we move up the nature pyramid, the next benchmark is five hours each month in semi-wild environments, such as state parks. Findings from a 2005 Finnish survey indicated that individuals who spent at least this amount of time in wilder spaces reported lower stress and greater happiness.

• Participants in the study who visited a forested park felt markedly relaxed compared to those in city parks.
• Researchers noted a positive correlation between time spent in nature and improved mental health across various demographics.
• Many reported increased satisfaction in their daily lives, driven by their nature experiences.

Hopman reiterated the benefits, emphasizing, “Wilder environments stimulate us in unique ways that urban spaces simply cannot.” Nature bombards our senses—think the smell of pine, the sounds of rustling leaves, the sun’s warmth on our skin—all elements that contribute to our well-being.

3 Days

At the top of the pyramid, we discover the ultimate recommendation: three days each year entirely off the grid in nature. This could mean camping or renting a cabin in areas devoid of modern distractions and teeming with natural life. Recent studies suggest that such immersive experiences can send our brains into states reminiscent of meditation, harnessing alpha waves that enhance creativity and foster mental clarity.

For example, one study found that veterans who spent just four days in nature experienced significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and improved overall happiness. Anecdotal evidence from my own experience reinforced this; even days after my Alaskan adventure, I felt lighter and more energized, better equipped to handle daily pressures.

Now residing at the edge of the desert in Las Vegas, I integrate nature into my daily routine, walking my dogs on red-rock trails for at least 20 minutes. Sundays are reserved for longer runs into the canyons, ensuring I meet my five-hour monthly minimum. I anticipate a week-long fly-fishing trip this summer in Idaho’s Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness Area, eager to reconnect with raw nature.

As Michael Easter eloquently expressed in his book, *The Comfort Crisis*, this connection to the wild can be transformative, pushing us to “embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy, and healthy self.” Whether you’re dodging a stampeding caribou or simply pausing to breathe in fresh air, it’s clear that nature’s grip can enhance our lives in profoundly important ways.

Source: www.menshealth.com