Need a Hug?

The word, "tree-hugger" typically brings to mind a doozy of ugly stereotypes pertaining to that category of hippies who sport greasy long hair, a small pale frame, and an affinity for avoiding showers. Shake that disturbing image out of your head and take a second to really consider: what exactly IS wrong with hugging a tree? Since when did reducing stress, preventing anxiety, and alleviating depression become a bad thing? It's not, and maybe if you or I ever took the time to get to know a tree-hugger, we would already know that. Be ready to toss your bias out the window (only if it is biodegradable) and put some sneakers on.  If you don't even get a chance to finish this article because you will be out the door clutching to our leafy friends for dear life, I will pat myself on the back for a job well-done. 

Although hype surrounding the field of "Eco-Therapy" makes it seem like a recent phenomenon, humans have been using the healing powers of nature for centuries, even millennia.  Take a look at the folklore of any culture in the world, and you will find numerous references to ancient medicine men, shamans, mystics, and druids who used the power of nature to heal ailments, cure diseases and perform health miracles.

If thousands of years of history cannot appease even the harshest skeptic out there, then perhaps this will: researchers increasingly point to nature as one of the strongest and most effective healers. Much of our modern-day diseases (be it mental, physical, emotional, or psychological) are attributed to the decrease in contact with nature and the environment. Technology is surely a blessing, but it is also inadvertently emitting green house gases, depleting the ozone, polluting our oceans, and making us sick.

Sure, we all love to take trips out to the metropolis, where the glimmer of the stars is outshone by the glitz of the city skyline, and where trees stand in the shade of buildings, not the other way around. (Don't get me wrong, I grew up in LA, the polluted concrete playground of the West, but I love my city with every fiber of my being.) However, not even living underneath the Hollywood sign can make up for being depressed, stressed out or anxious.

It is hard to believe that the solution may be as easy as walking out the door. Nature M.D. does not charge a dime, works in rain or shine 24 hours a day year-round across the world, and indiscriminately heals every patient.

So close your laptop, grab a water bottle, and head outside to hug a tree (or at least lean on one if you're modest), sniff some flowers, and take a barefoot stroll on the grass. I personally recommend upping your "green" dosage daily and rapidly (side-effects may include happiness, a spontaneous urge to smile at strangers, a positive demeanor, and an optimistic outlook).