Are you looking to deepen your knowledge of ecotherapy or natural healing? Maybe you are new to the idea and are looking for some tips. No matter where you fall on the scale of ecotherapy or natural healing knowledge, these five books on nature therapy will open your mind to new ideas and a more natural way to be healthy.
There is so much to learn about how the Earth can help us heal our bodies and our minds. If you question taking a pill for every ache and pain and feel like there must be a better, more natural way to heal, these books can give you the insights you are looking for. Here are our favorite nature therapy books.
Our Top Five Nature Therapy Books
1. Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind by Craig Chalquist and Linda Buzzell
If you are looking for an excellent introductory book, this is it. Often considered a core textbook for the field of Ecotherapy. It features a collection of essays from 29 by experts in the field and it covers a wide range of topics from garden therapy to animal therapy to saving our planet. It is nice to see the different viewpoints of the experts instead of just one person’s perspective. Be prepared to have your mind opened as you read.
Ecotherapy or ecopsychology is centered around the idea that our body, souls, and community are all helped and healed through a positive interaction with nature. As the body of scientific evidence grows and our desire to heal in a natural, organic way intensifies, ecotherapy is a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional medicine.
2. The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith
This book is recommended for anyone who loves gardening, or anyone who has ever wanted to learn about the therapeutic benefits gardening can provide. Sue Stuart-Smith also takes us back to the origins of gardening and how indigenous people view the natural environment. It will show you how gardening can transport your mind to another place and use it as a way to heal. Mental health is something a lot of people take for granted. If you have never had mental health issues, the whole idea may seem silly, but a big part of tackling anxiety is having something to occupy your mind. I learned things from this book I had never thought about before.
One thing that stands out for me how well researched this book is. The time and care that went into studying brain chemistry and how it can be impacted by gardening is fantastic to read about. She explores how gardens affect patient care for hospitals around the world, for prisoners who are allowed to garden and for all people with mental and physical disabilities. Gardens have been a comfort to people in distress for thousands of years.
After reading this book, I am confident that gardening can help improve anyones overall mental health. Sue Stuart-Smith does an excellent job of showing you how this is possible. Now more than ever, we need to keep mental health in mind, not just physical health.
3. The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
Once you read this book, you will want to get out and start hiking! The Nature Fix gives compelling arguments to support the natural healing claim. Florence Williams travels all over the world examining the research around how nature affects our mood, creativity, mental and physical health. She shows us just how powerful nature can be for a wide variety of health issues. Florence Williams backs it all up with science which should help anyone with doubts.
The sad truth in our world today is that our connection with nature seems to fade every day. There are real benefits to being with nature on a regular basis. I bet you didn’t know that your blood pressure can be lowered just by taking a walk in a park. Anyone who values their mental and physical well-being needs to read this book. The answer to feeling better isn’t found in a bottle of pills.
Watch this very short video on just a few of the things she found.
4. Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li
Forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese term for the process of taking in the forest during a walk. Dr. Li explains what this nature therapy is and why spending time beneath the trees is so valuable.
He will change how you feel about trees and the forest and their healing properties. Studies have shown that there are real benefits from spending time out in the forest. There is more science involved in forest bathing than you would think.
Dr. Qing reveals how it can help lower your blood pressure, improve your heart health and even make it easier to fight cancer.
We forget that trees are why we have air to breathe and are vital to our planet. Turns out, they are vital to our health as well.
Just one look at the included pictures of Japan’s beautiful gardens and natural landscapes and you feel yourself relaxing. I can only imagine the effect they would have in person. They will make you want to visit Japan and find a nearby forest.
5. The Earth Prescription: Discover the Healing Power of Nature with Grounding Practices for Every Season by Laura Koniver MD , Stephen Kroschel, et al.
If you have heard about grounding but have no idea what it is all about or how to practice it then this book will answer all your questions. The Earth Prescription will have you wondering why you don’t regularly walk around barefoot outside. It may sound silly to some people, but Dr. Laura Koniver makes a compelling case.
In her book, she explains the science and theory behind grounding. Grounding is the idea that simply touching the Earth can help heal and rejuvenate you.
What sets this book apart is its practical application. She gives you grounding activities for every season so you can start practicing it right away.
Also included is an Earth journal to help you write down your grounding experiences. If you are looking for a simple way to make your body and mind reconnect with Mother Nature and heal you in the process, take a walk outside barefoot and read this book.
Which Nature Therapy Book Is Your Favorite?
Everyone wants to reduce stress and lead a healthier, happier life. Whether you choose to relax by working in the garden or find your bliss in the forest, we can all enjoy the benefits of establishing a closer connection to the outside world.
Nature therapy books offer an easy way to learn about the different ways we can improve our health by simply spending more time outdoors.
