Horticulture therapy is a form of treatment that uses plants and gardening as a way to improve the health of people with physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities.
By Muhammad Muzamil Ijaz, Muhammad Asad Shabir, Dr. Adnan Younis, Dr. Nasir Ahmad Khan and Dr. Ahsan Akram
Introduction:
There are many benefits to horticulture therapy including improved physical fitness, increased self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress levels. Horticulture therapy can be used with people of all ages, and it is especially beneficial for those who have difficulty interacting with other people. This is an ancient practice, but has only recently been recognized as a health profession and is not widely taught. It can be used in many different ways, such as hospitals and nursing homes, or in the home for older adults with physical disabilities. Home-based therapy can be offered to help older adults with a variety of conditions, including arthritis, cancer, depression, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and others.
History:
Horticulture therapy is a form of occupational therapy that uses plants and gardening to help people with physical, mental, or emotional problems. It can improve moods and increase social interaction by providing patients with a method of self-expression. Patients gain pleasure from their participation in the gardening process. In the 1980s, a patient gardening program was started at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The program expanded to other hospitals throughout Minnesota. In 1987, the first patient garden was planted in a hospital room in St. Paul, Minnesota. The program was sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society for Horticultural Therapy (ASHT). The patient garden movement grew in popularity in the 1990s and beyond. The patient garden movement was part of the broader environmental movement of the time. The importance of the patient garden as a therapeutic tool was recognized by the Minnesota Legislature in 1985, which declared that June 1 to October 31 would be “Gardening Month”. In 1990, the Minnesota Nurses Association took over the program and added a focus on nutrition. The program was then renamed “Gardening for Health”. In 1993, the program’s name was changed to “Gardening for Health” in an effort to broaden its appeal. The program was expanded into other states and as of 2013 had been offered in 22 states. In 2007, the program was taught in all 50 states and in 2013, expanded into Canada and the United Kingdom. Gardening for Health was established by the late Paul F. Fortmann, who graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in horticulture and developed the program after his mother died of breast cancer at age 63. . “I was puzzled by the fact that we spend a lot of money on health care and yet millions of people die prematurely every year,” Fortmann wrote in his book, “Gardening for Health.” “Why did so many people die at such an early age?
What types of illnesses can be treated with Horticulture therapy?
Horticulture therapy can be used to improve mental and physical health, social skills, and quality of life. It has been shown to be helpful for people with a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including dementia, cancer, stroke, anxiety, and depression. The word “horticulture” has its origins in the Latin words “hortus”, meaning garden, and “cultura”, meaning cultivation. Horticulture therapy may be focused on providing one person with the opportunity to grow and care for a plant. Plant-based therapy for people with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new field.
Horticultural Therapy: A New Hope for Mental Health
Mental health disorders are becoming increasingly common in the world. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans suffer from a mental health disorder. While there are many treatments available for mental health disorders, such as medication and therapy, some people are looking for an alternative treatment. It can be used to treat a variety of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. It has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of these disorders and improving quality of life. One reason horticulture therapy is so effective is that it is a physical activity.
In a recent study, patients who received horticulture therapy showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms. Another study conducted by the University of Maryland, it was found that horticulture therapy can help to improve moods, decrease anxiety levels, and reduce stress levels. The study also found that horticulture therapy can help to improve cognitive function and memory.
What are some potential side effects of Horticulture therapy?
Horticulture therapy is generally safe, but there are some potential side effects. These include skin irritation from contact with plants or soil, allergic reaction to plants, and infection from exposure to soil or water. Prevention of contact with poisonous plants includes the use of gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing. The first symptoms of poisoning from plants are often nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. These symptoms can be followed by weakness, abnormal behavior, dizziness, lack of co-ordination and vertigo. The condition is most common in people who have had previous surgery or are elderly. In medical emergency it requires immediate treatment by a health professional.
Role of Horticulture Therapy in Urban Environment
A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health highlights the importance of horticulture therapy in urban areas. The study found that engaging in horticulture therapy can improve mental well-being, social connectedness, and community engagement. In addition, the study showed that horticulture therapy can help to improve air quality and reduce noise levels in urban areas. These findings suggest that horticulture therapy can play an important role in improving the quality of life for people living in urban environments.
Conclusion:
Horticultural therapy is an integrative method of treating the whole person. It involves the patient and practitioner working together to improve health and well-being by addressing multiple aspects of life. Horticultural therapy is based on the concept that physical, mental and emotional health is interrelated. Horticulture (gardening) is a common therapeutic tool used in horticultural therapy because of its importance in human development and healing. Many programs have been developed to integrate horticulture into the treatment of mental health issues. The goals of these programs are to increase patients’ involvement in their own healing process and to improve their quality of life while they are being treated.