Instead of Pharmaceutical Drugs, These Physicians are Prescribing Time in Nature and Fruit, Vegetables For Patients

By Carolanne Wright

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

In an age where pharmaceutical drug use is off the charts, a thoughtful group of physicians are using a novel approach and advising their patients to “take a hike” — literally. Park prescriptions have been around since 2008, but the idea is now spreading more widely throughout the U.S. — and around the world — as obesity and mental health disorders have continued to climb. In a similar vein, doctors are also writing prescriptions for fruits, vegetables and other wholesome food, which patients can “fill” at their local market. The result of these unconventional interventions is nothing short of inspiring.

The Healing Power of Nature

A whole new spin on writing prescriptions for patients has people moving — through green spaces, parks and forests, in lieu of popping pharmaceutical meds for what ails them. And it works.

San Francisco physician Daphne Miller is known for writing out “park prescriptions” like this:

Drug: Exercise in Glen Canyon Park

Dose: 45 minutes of walking or running

Directions: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7am

Refills: Unlimited

Dr. Miller feels it’s easier to maintain an exercise program when we’re outdoors, possibly because of the changing scenery, fresh air or, what she refers to as, “the camaraderie of the trail.” She’s written hundreds of park prescriptions for her patients — which have had great success in curbing a variety of health complaints. And she’s not alone in her unusual prescriptions. Many physicians — particularly pediatricians — are dispensing thousands of these prescriptions to not only get some exercise, but to do it out in nature.

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Further reading from Carolanne Wright:

• The Most Eco-Friendly Nation on the Planet is Now Carbon Negative
• Plastic Waste in the Ocean Will Outnumber Fish by 2050
• Mind Control, Subliminal Messages and the Brainwashing of America
• Monsanto Charged with Crimes Against Nature and Humanity – Set to Stand Trial in 2016
• Plastic-Eating Mushroom Discovered in the Amazon Rainforest — A Solution for Our Trash Saturated World?
• Over 100 Scientific Studies Agree: Cannabis Annihilates Cancer
• Why Every Parent Should Consider Unschooling
• First U.S. City Produces More Electricity Than It Uses — With 100% Renewable Technology
• If You Care About Animals and the Earth, Here’s Why You Need to Boycott Palm Oil Immediately
• Basic Income Guarantee: A Surprisingly Cost-Effective Method for Eliminating Poverty

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