Principles and techniques of therapeutic green

The design of green areas for patients or for rehabs is spreading also in Italy, where there are interesting cases like that of the San Carlo Borromeo hospital in Milan. The therapeutic purpose is pursued trying to activate all the senses, from sight to smell, with a wide variety of plants that require careful maintenance

In the last few years, the interest in therapeutic green has increased in Italy as well, not only in hospitals, but also in nursing homes and care centers, where green areas are made for curative aims. In the Anglo-Saxon countries, from which they come, these green areas are called “Healing Gardens”. This trend is also present in many other countries like USA and Canada where they are quite common.

The basic concept of these implementations comes from the awareness that the quality of the environment is strictly connected to the quality of life. It is therefore the link between nature and health and between environment and well-being, confirmed by the scientific research of the sector, which leads to the creation of the therapeutic green. In fact, it has been ascertained that, all things being equal, the patients who go during their stay in green areas - a garden or a park - recover faster; as well as elderly people living in areas with high concentration of green, have a higher quality and life expectancy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of overall physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of sickness or infirmity”.

The enjoyment of therapeutic green can be: passive, which consists in looking at the green from the hospital bed or even “staying” in the green; active, when a “horticulture” or other gardening or horticulture activity is practiced.

Basically, it involves creating green areas in an external (or internal) space, conceived for specific needs, within public and private structures aimed at improving health and well-being, on people physical, mental and social level.

It follows that the first to be interested in the therapeutic green are hospitals and health care facilities, the shelters for the elderly, and wellness centers. Not only patients but also visitors, the patients families and the same medical and health staff, can enjoy these areas to have some relaxing moments in a comfortable environment and enjoy the benefits. Also the centers that take care of children and adolescents, as well as those aimed at people with disabilities or with addictions to drugs and alcohol, benefit greatly from them. The interest also concerns shopping centers, in which the creation of a structured green space would first benefit its employees to better motivate them, but also the customers who, finding a socializing meeting place, would be more inclined to attend the center.

In general terms it can be said that in the society in which we live, pervaded by technology and with ever more frenetic rhythms of life, being in touch with nature can only improve the physical and mental state of each person.

 

Design

As anticipated, there are various types of therapeutic green areas, as these structures must be built according to the specific needs of the users. At the design phase, different skills must be involved, from medical-health and psychological to botanical, agronomic and architectural. First of all, we must respect the general criteria of usability, beauty and manageability. This is beacuse the therapeutic garden must be an environment capable of raising pleasant feelings, but it must not present obstacles to any limitations of mobility of users without requiring excessive maintenance times and costs.

As for the ability to arise feelings, it is important that the implementation manages to involve all five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing, individually or in different combinations. Namely, it is a question of creating a link with the natural world in order to provide a sense of well-being. That is, to realize a wealth of species and varieties of plants that also guarantees seasonal change. Chromotherapy and therefore color, has a long healing tradition on various diseases because each color has beneficial effects. From green, which promotes relaxation and serenity, to yellow that inspires joy and warmth. The scent of flowers as the aromas of plants, have effects related to the degree of pleasantness perceived so that if the perception is pleasant, positive psychophysical effects are derived. Even tactile contact with plants produces different sensations that bring man closer to nature, as well as the chance of tasting the taste of fruits or of leaves. On the contrary, sound has the capacity to give opposite sensations: of disturbance, as can be the noise of a machine, but also pleasant sensations such as those made by nature. In trying to achieve these results, preference should be given to native and common plants that are easier to be appreciated by most users.

From the architectural point of view, it is necessary to provide structures that favor leisure activities, and create paths in the green with a circular course with low slopes without obstacles on the ground and also visible, because this facilitates socialization.

Horticultural therapy

With the horticultural therapy we aim to create an interaction with nature through the cultivation of plants and gardening. Taking care of the plants in the garden or in the vegetable garden increases self-esteem, improves mood and reduces stress. Moreover, activities such as hoeing, pruning, watering or weeding are excellent exercise. Working a couple of hours in the garden involves a consumption of 400-500 kcal, with a reduction in the sugar content in the blood.

The use of orthotherapy is particularly useful for people who have some physical disability, as active participation in cultivation and care of the green is an excellent method of rehabilitation. Of course, it is necessary to create suitable conditions such as, for example, having cultivation boxes placed at a certain height. Even in prisons orthotherapy can contribute to the recovery of people who show interest in working in contact with nature.

In Italy the therapeutic green is slowly spreading and there are interesting examples. Among these there is the “Healing Garden” of the San Carlo Borromeo Hospital in Milan, which was realized through the collaboration between the Mental Health Department of the San Carlo Borromeo Hospital and the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Milan. It is spread over an area of ​​5000 m² and offers different possibilities in terms of use: from the “garden of hugs” characterized by sinuous paths of different length in the green, to the synergistic vegetable garden thatallows for an active interaction with the vegetation.

Management and maintenance

The management and maintenance of these gardens is not different from that of other types. The presence of lown turfs requires the ordinary treatment of grass cutting, fertilization, irrigation, etc., while the areas with flowering plants with shrubs or tall trees need fertilization, irrigation, treatments, pruning etc. All under the guidance of specialized staff.