Benefits of gardening.

“When we breathe in these chemicals whether in the forest, the bush, the woods, or your own small garden, our bodies respond by increasing the quantity and activity of white blood cells which are known to destroy tumours and infected or diseased cells like cancer cells.”

The benefits of gardening are plentiful. I mean, how couldn't they be?

Getting up and moving your body away from your t.v or laptop or phone. Stepping outside, expanding your lungs and inhaling fresh air with sunshine permeating your being.

Plants are alchemical remedies, when applied topically to the skin, when ingested as food or medicine, and also for the soul. A study on the emotional impact of flowers which was carried out over a 10 month period found that "Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction."

Any time spent in nature, amongst plants has a beneficial experience on our entire being. All plants produce phytoncides which are volatile organic compounds or airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects.

These natural oils have antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities which assist plants to fight off disease. When we breathe in these chemicals whether in the forest, the bush, the woods, or your own small garden, our bodies respond by increasing the quantity and activity of white blood cells which are known to destroy tumours and infected or diseased cells like cancer cells.

If you kick your shoes off while gardening you can also tap into another source of healing from the process known as 'earthing' or 'grounding' where we connect our bare feet to the surface of the earth.

Reconnecting with the earths electrons enables the negative charge to interact with our physiology and overall health.

An increasing amount of scientific research continues to present new evidence which highlights the link between good health, the ability for the body to heal and maintain homeostasis and the amount of time the body is connected to the earths electromagnetic field - a limitless supply of sub-atomic particles called electrons.

Connecting with the earths electromagnetic field has many positive effects including reduced inflammation, increased immune responses, faster wound healing, better sleep, reduced symptoms of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and the ability to shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic activation.

So besides all of these wonderful physical and emotional benefits that gardening invites us to tap into, there is also an unseen benefit that resides within our consciousness. Growing your own food and medicine is your inherent right. Harnessing this right to cultivate free food and remedies, even on a small scale is empowering. Realising that you have the ability to grow fresh greens, vegetables, herbs and fruit on your balcony, in your backyard or in a shared community space opens up the enquiry of 'wow, what else is possible'?

Gardening and witnessing seeds become plants that you can harvest is an extremely grounding process and to know that you were able to provide the space and nourishment for that to happen is empowering. It provides internal strength to know that you are part of something much greater.

And there is nothing sweeter than than popping out to the garden to pick some fresh herbs or greens to add to your meals.