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Gardening Cures Depression!

by Will on June 14, 2007

In a article titled “Is Dirt the New Prozac?“, Discover Magazine summarizes for us non-scientists a research study headed by Dr, Christopher Lowery, that may explain it feels so GOOD to work in the garden. My post title aside, being outside may not be a true cure for depression, but apparently it helps. The study showed a common soil bacterium, that we inhale when digging in the dirt, activates the serotonin releasing neurons in our brain. I always knew that I felt great when outdoors and active, now I know why! I seems you can get a healthy, (literally), dose of Mycobacterium vaccae when hiking, gardening, or taking part in almost any outdoor activity that involves kicking up a little dirt.

The article goes on to discuss how the discovery could add to our knowledge of the biological causes of depression, asthma, and inflammatory disorders in general. I had the thought that our positive biological response to this organism may be coded into our bodies as a means of survival. Back when most people grew and harvested their own food, there would have been a real survival benefit for people who worked the earth. I have often joked that I have the “farmer gene”. Now I wonder is some of us are indeed

I would take the time to further summarize the findings of the study, but I really need to get started on some overdue weeding in the vegetable garden.

Will Sig

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Sarah Andrade October 10, 2007 at 3:43 pm

Very useful information was found here, thank you for your work.

Depression Blog June 15, 2008 at 8:11 am

It is great to know there is a scientific link between it – I now have an excuse for spending hours in the garden!

Depression Blogs last blog post..Advice With Focusing On Your Fears

Vertigo Guy August 8, 2008 at 1:40 pm

I personally find gardening to be an excellent way to get rid of stress, and take my mind off of whatever I’m thinking about. I just need to get someone to water all my plants when I take a vacation. :)

Vertigo Guys last blog post..My vestibular loss is bilateral, not unilateral.

Jagad Guru Chris Butler September 13, 2008 at 7:11 pm

I really like gardening too. It’s just great to be with nature and watching things grow. It just gets my back sometimes when I dig up a heap load of things.

Jagad Guru Chris Butlers last blog post.."Buddhists are not Hedonists" by Jagad Guru Chris Butler

Jade Bonsai Tree September 15, 2008 at 11:02 pm

Interesting article for sure. I never would have thought that dirt had a chemical in it that actually changed the way we felt.

I always remember going out when I was younger with my grandma and would help her plant and what not. It was quite enjoyable not only because I was spending time with my grandma but because I was outside. It’s just something about the air that makes it so relaxing.

Plus the joy of getting to play with dirt when I was younger was always fun as you could imagine.

Depressed Man September 24, 2008 at 9:17 pm

I’ve tried everything else, may as well give gardening a shot. I suppose the extra sun and exercise could give me a bit of a boost…

Anna October 25, 2008 at 8:24 pm

Will I know this was posted long time ago. But I tell you I came outside this weekend to clean up backyard as Dom was watching the baby – boy I felt good! I love gardening, and I miss it so much, too bad I had to do clean up instead of start up….lol. Anna :)

Annas last blog post..What’s on the Far Side of the Moon?

Steve February 15, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Hey Will,
AWESOME post! Thanks for making my day! Now I know why I love gardening so much. It’s breathing the dirt! And I though it was just the mouth-water fresh tomatoes that were my reward. I think I’ll head out and breath a little dirt right now! ~ Steve

Steves last blog post..Watch This Video Or Else…

Will February 15, 2009 at 6:00 pm

You are welcome, Steve! This also probably explains why the happiest kids are usually the ones outside getting dirty.

Cool Garden Things January 5, 2010 at 10:35 am

Huh…I do garden maintenance and while I get tired of it by the end of the year… I do feel a need to smell that dirt smell within a few weeks of the snow covering it all. A good addiction in my opinion!
GartenGrl
Cool Garden Things´s last blog ..Great Ground Cover Suggestions For A Northern Garden My ComLuv Profile

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