Nature Is Medicine: Why It’s Time to Prescribe the Outdoors
- Megha Poddar
- May 12
- 3 min read
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a pilot program by @PaRx that allowed healthcare providers like me to formally prescribe something many of us intuitively know is good for our health: time in nature.
What surprised me most? Not a single patient turned me down.
This kind of initiative is part of a growing global movement known as social prescribing—a model of care that connects patients with non-medical interventions to support their well-being. Rather than relying solely on pills or procedures, social prescribing recognizes that health is shaped by far more than what happens in the clinic. It’s about addressing the broader conditions of our lives—our communities, relationships, housing, food security, and yes, access to nature.
In fact, the idea of using nature intentionally for health isn’t new. Japan has long embraced “Shinrin-yoku,” or forest bathing—the practice of immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of a forest environment to reduce stress and restore balance. It’s now recognized globally as a powerful, evidence-based form of preventive medicine.
A recent article in Advances in Family Practice Nursing titled “Public support for nature prescriptions: Results from a nationally representative survey” reinforces what I’ve seen firsthand. The study found that over 80% of U.S. adults surveyed expressed interest in receiving a nature prescription, yet only 1 in 10 had even heard of them. That’s a striking mismatch between public enthusiasm and public awareness—one we hope to change by spreading the word.
Nature as a Health Intervention
Why prescribe nature? The benefits are backed by evidence. According to the article, time in nature has been associated with:
Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
Improved mood and emotional well-being
Better physical activity levels
Lower blood pressure and inflammation
Improved attention and memory
Enhanced social connection
This isn’t just feel-good fluff. Nature exposure can impact key biological markers and behaviors, contributing to long-term health in ways medications often can’t.
And here’s the kicker: clinical care accounts for only 20% of the factors that determine health outcomes. The rest? It’s our everyday lives—the environments we move through, the resources we can access, and the opportunities we’re given to thrive outside hospital walls.
The Role of Social Prescribing
Nature prescriptions are a perfect example of social prescribing in action. They link patients with activities that improve health, even though they fall outside traditional medical care. Whether it’s a walk in a city park, a hike on a local trail, or even a short break outdoors during the workday, these moments have real impact—and they’re often free, simple, and safe.
But prescribing time in nature isn’t just about handing someone a park map. It’s about removing the barriers that prevent people from accessing these healing spaces.
Inequities in Access
As with so many aspects of health, inequities exist even in nature access. Marginalized communities—especially racialized, low-income, and urban populations—are less likely to live near green spaces, and more likely to face barriers like transportation, safety concerns, or lack of culturally relevant outdoor programming. As providers and policymakers, we must ask: Who gets to experience the benefits of nature—and who doesn’t?
Addressing this means advocating for investment in green infrastructure, community gardens, safe parks, and urban forestry—especially in underserved neighborhoods. It also means acknowledging that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Nature prescriptions must be adaptable, inclusive, and rooted in community needs.
What’s Holding Us Back?
Despite the clear benefits, the article highlights several barriers to implementing nature prescriptions. These include:
Patient-level barriers like time, weather, transportation
Limited provider awareness or training
Lack of institutional support or resources
The need for stronger partnerships between healthcare systems and local parks or nature organizations
But there’s good news: These are solvable problems. With advocacy, education, and system-level change, we can integrate nature into our standard of care—just as we would diet, exercise, or medication.
Why This Matters Now
We’re sharing this because we believe in the transformative power of nature for health—and we want more people to know this is an option. If you're a healthcare provider in Canada, consider registering as a prescribing of nature at https://www.parkprescriptions.ca/ →
Why?
Its easy and effective
Writing it down works better
Patients trust thier healthcare providers
Prescribing nature is food for the earth
Most of our lives are spent outside the healthcare system, and it’s time we started optimizing those spaces for health, too.
Nature is medicine. Let’s start prescribing it.
