Maybe you never made mud pies, but you enjoy walking barefoot on the beach or grass, feeling the soft earth under your feet. Maybe you enjoy running your fingers over tree bark during a nature walk, or inhaling the scent of a recent rainfall over natural terrain. Or maybe, like me, you've transitioned your love of dirt into a passion for gardening. Maybe, like me, you're planting bulbs for spring.
For 14 years, I lived in city dwellings and had to satisfy my cultivation itch with a few potted houseplants and stoop-front annuals in containers.
6 years ago, I had the amazing fortune to move to a more suburban environment, and our landlord gave me carte blanche to cultivate the bit of earth out back that we share with our neighbors in the building (all of whom are thrilled to have more greens and flowers to gaze upon and smell in the warmer months as part of our home).
There are a few theories (and research to back them up) as to why gardening, nature walks, and time spent in physical contact with the earth are so therapeutic. One factor is sunshine: frequent and moderate exposure to the sun seems to have a profound effect on the brain's serotonin, the chemical responsible for helping us feel calm and contented. This is why Seasonal Affective Disorder is so common in winter, when there is less sunlight and people spend more time indoors.
Another rather obvious factor is that (most) everyone enjoys the beauty of natural splendor. If you are getting dirty, you're probably outside, and you're probably engaging in an enjoyable activity. Chances are that your feet are in the sand or your hands are in the flowerbed because it's your "me" time, and you're engaging in self-care (while also caring for your environment, ideally).
One possibly surprising factor is the actual dirt, itself. Soil contains loads of fun ingredients, including "Mycobacterium vaccae" (myco is the prefix for mushrooms, by the way, and maybe you've heard of how underground fungi can actually help plants communicate to one another--we truly know so little about the magic of plants). This is a kind of soil microbe which is responsible for nourishing plants, and may have the added benefit of improving mental (and possibly physical) health. According to gardeningknowhow.com,
"The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress. Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar problems. The bacterium appears to be a natural antidepressant in soil and has no adverse health effects. These antidepressant microbes in soil may be as easy to use as just playing in the dirt."
By simply touching the soil, you absorb some of these nutrients. By eating food grown in soil, you *ingest* these nutrients (a concept heralded by Josh Axe in his book, "Eat Dirt").
You can consume natural antidepressants by just getting some dirt under your nails (and/or in your mouth). It's worth letting your manicure take a hit. And nothing tastes better than food you grew yourself, if you have the space to do so.
Obviously, no one is suggesting that you toss your meds and therapy. I certainly keep up my conventional health protocols. And not everyone has a yard or even a stoop. But maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a few succulents to whisper sweet nothings to. My only warning is that this hobby tends to evolve into a lifestyle, and once you start it's unlikely you'll ever want to stop.
Resources:
https://time.com/4888327/why-sunlight-is-so-good-for-you/
