Nature is the Best Medicine Go Outside…Responsibly
Mother Nature Knows the Benefits
Stir crazy yet? It’s safe to say all of us here feel like a tornado is upon us. With the reality of the pandemic, almost everything is cancelled and some of us have self-imposed “staycations.”
Spring is just about here and we are all getting the itch, to go outside to start spring cleaning and play. While science offers little advice other than washing your hands and now social distancing to combat this new virus, there is some interesting notions, naturally, that shows our primate instincts to get outside, it may be the best thing for us.
Contact was made with an outdoor organization, ‘Green Games’ in western North Carolina; situated within a state owned wildlife conservation and multi-trail management area called the Green River Game Lands. Its festival Director John Grace offered comprehensive and sage community advice with the cautionary notes of following the health guidelines we all know from memory. “All of this is with sincere concern about what is the best path for our trail users moving forward. There will be another side to this, so how do we handle life between now and then?”
He said this is not the first nor will it be the last pandemic the world has been through. 100 years ago, long before antibiotics and modern medicine one of the worst pandemics in human history, the misnomer ‘Spanish Flu’ killed more than 20 million people worldwide. “Healthcare professionals at the time were desperate to do whatever they could to help the sick. It turns out one of the most promising remedies of the time turned out to be something called ‘Open Air Therapy.’ Essentially people started to study the effect of sunlight and fresh air on our health and the results were incredibly positive.
“We’re bikers, kayakers, and runners not doctors, but during this crazy time, we feel it’s important to note that going outside and getting some exercise could be more important than ever. As the saying goes ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ and maybe going out in the forest for a walk or a jog is the best way to do that right now.”
Viruses and bacteria have a harder time living in the sunlight. “You’ve heard the folklore that moss only grows on the north side of trees right? This isn’t always the case, but bacteria and mold do only grow where there is minimal sunlight. Sun exposure has a germicidal effect. Sunlight also kills bacteria that can cause lung and other infections.”
In the 1960s the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense scientists proved that fresh air is a natural disinfectant. He said, “It turns out the Open Air Factor is far more harmful to airborne bacteria – and the influenza virus – than indoor air. This is true both at night and during the day. As well, this is also true if a room has cross ventilation. ‘The efficacy of open air treatment has been absolutely proven, and one has only to try it to discover its value,” states our Surgeon General of the Massachusetts State Guard.
Vitamin D is vital in helping our immune system stay balanced and 90% of our Vitamin D comes from the sun. Low levels of Vitamin D can compromise the immune system and reduce our body’s ability to resist infections. John says, “Low vitamin D levels are linked to respiratory infections and can make us more susceptible to influenza. As well, Vitamin D and sunlight help keep our circadian rhythm balanced. Our circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in many biological processes, such as the sleep-wake cycle, hormone secretion, cardiovascular health, glucose homeostasis, and body temperature regulation. Energy balance is also one of the most important cornerstones of metabolic processes, whereas energy imbalance is associated with many diseases (i.e., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease).”
Exercise is proven to improve the immune system by increasing the white blood cells in our body. In short, better fitness equates to a stronger immune system (the body’s defense system). “One unproven theory as to why exercise helps us fight off sickness is that through the huffing and puffing, we’re flushing bacteria out of our lungs and airways, which lowers the chances of it taking hold. Another unproven theory is an increase in body temperature, before and after exercise, may prevent infections from growing.”
The Canadian Ecology Centre, has a reasonable and responsible outdoor invitation to consider. Back Roads Bill explores the back roads and back waters of Northern Ontario Saturdays in the The Nugget and on the CBC. He is the founder of the Canadian Ecology Centre and teaches part-time at Nipissing University and Canadore College.
