London: Scientists have revealed that gardening can help in treating the ‘blues’. It is now being increasingly used as an effective therapy to help drug addicts, soldiers with post-traumatic disorders and stroke victims.
Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said that more doctors should promote gardening therapy, which not just benefits the patients, but also creates “huge potential savings for the NHSâ€.
The researchers have also said that just looking at a garden has been scientifically proven to improve recovery time and patients do much better after surgery if they look at “green things”. Thompson said that the positive effects of gardening include, exercise, vitamin D from sunlight and home-grown food.
Alyson Chorley, from horticultural charity Thrive, said that gardening can benefit everyone, regardless of age or ability and people who have suffered from strokes can improve their mobility by getting their muscles moving.
Chorley added that the activity also improves mental health by providing a sense of purpose and achievement and can reduce feelings of isolation and low mood.