Spending Time in Nature: The Overlooked Health Behavior.

This article explores the benefits of spending time in nature for overall health and well-being. It discusses the historical belief in the healing power of nature and recent scientific research supporting its benefits. The article also addresses the lack of formal recognition and research on this health behavior and the disparities in access to nature, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups and lower-income individuals. It introduces new technologies, such as NatureScoreTM and NatureDoseTM, that aim to quantify and promote nature exposure for health promotion. The article concludes by suggesting various ways individuals and employers can incorporate nature into their daily routines. Additionally, the text discusses the perspectives and actions of civil rights leaders Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois in relation to racial equality and the environment. Both leaders recognized the importance of nature and the environment in their work, although they had differing approaches to achieving equality for Black Americans. The text also explores the benefits of nature prescriptions and the use of psychedelic medicines in mental health treatment. Nature prescriptions involve healthcare providers prescribing time spent in outdoor spaces to improve specific health conditions, and research has shown that spending time in greenspace can have numerous health benefits. The use of psychedelic medicines, such as psilocybin and ketamine, has shown promise in treating mental health conditions, but more research is needed to fully understand their therapeutic potential. Combining psychedelic therapy with nature-based therapies has shown to be complementary and may enhance the therapeutic effects. [Extracted from the article]