Gardening Lifts Your Mood- an hour with your hands in the earth settles the mind
A soil bacterium acts like an antidepressant in lab studies. The link between Mycobacterium vaccae and serotonin, and why gardening settles the mind.
Photo: Robin Wersich
The link between Mycobacterium vaccae and serotonin, and why an hour with your hands in the earth settles the mind.
There is a bug in ordinary soil that, in the laboratory, behaves like an antidepressant. It is called Mycobacterium vaccae, and the way scientists found it is the kind of accident that makes a career. Lung cancer patients were given the killed bacterium as an experimental immune treatment. It did not extend their lives, but it did something nobody was looking for. Their mood lifted. A researcher named Christopher Lowry noticed, and went looking for why.
What the bug does to a brain
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Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief of Rich Woman Magazine, founder of Sovereign Magazine, author of many books, Dr Marina Nani is a social edification scientist coining a new industry, Social Edification. Passionately advocating to celebrate your human potential, she is well known for her trademark "Be Seen- Be Heard- Be You" running red carpet events and advanced courses like Blog Genius®, Book Genius®, Podcast Genius®, the cornerstones of her teaching. The constant practitioner of good news, she founded MAKE THE NEWS ( MTN) with the aim to diagnose and close the achievement gap globally. Founder of many publications, British Brands with global reach Marina believes that there is a genius ( Stardust) in each individual, regardless of past and present circumstances. "Not recognising your talent leaves society at loss. Sharing the good news makes a significant difference in your perception about yourself, your industry and your community."
