Garden use leads to decreased levels of agitation or anxiety among dementia patients

Mercola.com
Take Control of Your Health

By: Dr. Mercola
Date: 21 August 2014

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Why Your Brain Needs a Garden

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Story at-a-glance

• Garden use leads to decreased levels of agitation or anxiety among dementia patients
• Gardening is one of the most potent stress-relieving activities there is and leads to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than other activities, including reading
• Mycobacterium vaccae, a type of bacteria commonly found in soil, has been found to “mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide”
• The microbes help to stimulate serotonin production, helping to make you feel happier and more relaxed.
• In one animal study, mice that ingested mycobacterium vaccae had a demonstrated reduction in anxiety and improved learning