There is an obscure proverb that states: “If you want to be happy for a day – get drunk, if you want to be happy for a month, get married, if you want to be happy forever, build a garden.”
It has always been common wisdom that “working” the soil makes one happy and healthy. As it turns out, there is a scientific reason behind this phenomenon.
There is a certain bacteria that lives in the soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, which triggers the release of Serotonin, also known as 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine).
Insufficient serotonin is linked with a number of disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, aggression, and even physiological ailments such as irritable bowel and fibromyalgia. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant and strengthens the immune system.
Scientists at Bristol University and University College London found that by injecting laboratory mice with mycobacterium vaccae, the mice’s behavior was altered as if they had been given antidepressants.
They are postulating this is why immune system problems could make some people susceptible to mood disorders.
Dr. Chris Lowry of Bristol University said, “These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health.”
Oncologist Mary O’Brien at Royal Marsden Hospital in London injected cancer patients with a strain of Mycobacterium vaccae and discovered that, besides exhibiting fewer cancer symptoms, patients showed enhanced emotional health, vitality, and even improved cognitive function.
There are additional physiological benefits thought to be connected with getty dirty
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that children who grow up on “traditional” farms are 30 to 50 percent less likely than other children to develop asthma. Researchers suggest that the plethora of different species of bacteria and fungi from the soil and farm animals are the reason behind the correlation.
It should be no surprise that in our “hyper-hygienic” society that “dirt-deficiency” in childhood is thought to contribute to a number of illnesses including allergies, asthma and mental disorders.
So, if you want to be happy and healthy, you should grow a garden, dig in the soil and just get your hands dirty.
