Nature Prescriptions Gain Traction for Health

Millions in Canada advised to “take two hours of nature and call me in the morning.”

A growing number of Canadians are being prescribed time in nature, with over 1.3 million receiving these unique recommendations in the last five years. This trend, championed by the PaRx program, aims to combat sedentary lifestyles and chronic diseases prevalent in urban areas.

The Growing Movement of Green Prescriptions

Launched by the BC Parks Foundation in 2020 and now expanding nationwide, the PaRx program suggests patients spend at least two hours weekly immersed in natural settings. Healthcare professionals issue these written prescriptions, believing they are more effective than mere verbal advice for encouraging outdoor activity.

While the exact definition of “nature” and the precise scientific mechanisms behind its healing power are still being explored, hundreds of studies highlight significant health benefits. These include lowered blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, and decreased risks for conditions like asthma, ADHD, and coronary heart disease.

Currently, around 18,000 Canadian medical practitioners are actively participating in nature prescription initiatives. This widespread adoption addresses a critical public health challenge: a majority of Canadians reside in urban environments where access to natural spaces is often limited, contributing to rising rates of chronic illness.

Roots of Nature Therapy

The concept of nature as a therapeutic agent dates back centuries, with figures like Hippocrates advocating for its healing properties. Formal nature prescription programs, mirroring Canada’s PaRx, first emerged in the United States over a decade ago.

However, questions remain regarding the equivalency of different types of green spaces. Does a small city park offer the same benefits as a deep forest hike? The PaRx program references a 2018 review in the Environmental Research journal, which analyzed over 140 studies and found substantial benefits from greenspace utilization, defining it broadly to include urban parks and street greenery.

“Although this systematic review has uncovered a large body of research on the relationship between greenspace and health, there is a paucity of literature on the mechanisms underlying this relationship.”

—Study Authors, Environmental Research

Expert Perspectives and Ongoing Research

Dr. Ray Chipeniuk, an adjunct professor specializing in parks planning, supports the value of natural experiences but expresses reservations about the PaRx program. He emphasizes the need for clearer scientific definitions and measurement of “nature doses,” questioning the uncritical acceptance of quantifiable nature for mental health issues.

Conversely, family doctor and researcher Dr. Ilona Hale in Kimberly, B.C., actively prescribes nature. She views it as a low-risk alternative to traditional medications.

“When I’m prescribing a pill, I’m very concerned to know that it works, and if it’s not working, then we’re going to stop it, because there are very real potential side effects to medication treatment,” she said. “Whereas with this, I feel like if you’re going out in nature, and maybe you’re actually even being a bit physically active to get there, I don’t think there’s a lot of negative side effects.”

—Dr. Ilona Hale, Family Doctor and Clinical Researcher

The potential benefits of spending time outdoors are further supported by recent findings indicating that even short bursts of outdoor activity can improve mood and cognitive function. A 2023 study published in the *Journal of Environmental Psychology* found that just 15 minutes in a park setting led to measurable improvements in well-being among participants.