Prescription: Nature

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Nature is healing, and a new partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and Barton Health is bringing the benefits of 154,000 acres of wellness around Lake Tahoe to the public.

"Nature is medicine, nutrition is medicine and you don't have to pop pills for health," said Nancy Laurenson of Barton Health during a recent wellness outing on the Rainbow Trail at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

Laurenson said humans are in control of their health and lifestyle, and with about 80 percent of medical issues being preventable, nature provides an easy way to get, and stay, healthy.

The Lake Tahoe Basin is full of the best medicine, and its accessible by everyone, and there are no passes or equipment required.

The partnership between Barton and USFS began when the hospital needed permits for their MedWars adventure race events in the forest.

"This is what it means to be a community, we should be partnering, not permitting," said Jeff Marsolais. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) Forest Supervisor.

Barton Health had been talking about bringing nature into their healthcare solution for at least ten years, according to Dr. Gregory Bergner. "The opportunity came with Lisa Maloff's donation (to build the Robert Maloff Center) and wellness became the big push."

The two groups started with a wellness outing at Tallac Historic Site, and since then there have been targeted outings for those recovering from knee surgery, with cancer and infusion patients as well as outings for post-partum moms and their babies, bilingual walks and outings for youth with behavioral problems.

"These are exciting times," said Marsolais. "We'd like to think we're leading a national trend."

Marsolais said the Barton-USFS partnership for using nature as medicine is being experimented in other forests as well. The Teton National Forest and Hoosier National Forest and starting to partner with their local health care systems.

Mindful Nature

It doesn't take strenuous exercise to get the health benefits that nature provides. One doesn't have to be always moving....the key is paying attention to yourself.

"It's not about getting the exercise, it's about being relaxed and in a spot where you don't have to think," said Chris Egger, a PhD student in Positive Development Psychology at Claremont who went along on the Barton wellness walk. "A peaceful nature experience," said the North Lake Tahoe resident.

He said research shows how a person feels is reflective on what they're attending to. Mindful nature is where one gives direct attention to nature and not concentrating on other activities such as skiing, biking or running.

During the wellness walk, Joy Barney, Conservation Education Program Specialist with the LTBMU explained a method of entering the trail that is popular in Hawaii. She had everyone stop and shed all of their negative feelings and leave them at the trailhead.

"Enter nature, take a deep breath and let yourself just be," said Barney. She said the Hawaiian groups to a chant and ask permission to enter a trail. They then ask, 'what does nature want from us' followed by another deep breath.

Laurenson explained a process of tree mindfulness while out in nature. Take in the grandeur of a tree and imagine its power and strength.

Barton Health

"We recognize an increase in chronic disease and we need to turn it around," said Dr. Bergner.

Besides the wellness outings, Barton will be developing a system of trails outside the new Robert Maloff Center for Orthopedics and Wellness, each route focusing on the different abilities of people recovering from surgery or injuries. He said they'll each be labeled green, blue or black diamond...much like ski runs with green the easiest, black the toughest.

Research indicates that time in nature lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. It increases concentration, memory, and attention spans. It has been shown to boost immunity and is particularly beneficial for at-risk populations, such as those recovering from surgery, who often spend less time outside. These benefits were something Orthopedic surgeon, Stephen Bannar, MD, wanted his patients to experience. Dr. Bannar and Khristy Gavigan, a registered nurse, saw an opportunity to prescribe nature to patients and partnered with the LTBMU to provide a unique healing experience for their patients.

“Our idea was to unite health providers with public land managers to facilitate health benefits for those at-risk populations,” said Gavigan. “Partnering with the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit rangers provided that interpretive piece where they could support the logistics, help identify the appropriate outings, and deliver a message about the connection between community wellness and ecosystem health.”

Barton's website will feature the wellness focus, with events the public can participate in from outings to lectures.

U.S. Forest Service

"It's been exciting working together with Barton," said Marsolais. "Growing organically based on community needs."

He said they are working on a national template where all could use the example of nature-based recovery and wellness being set in Lake Tahoe.

"It is a unique role the national forest plays in rural communities and when a major pillar like health systems say, 'let's partner', all of a sudden it brings us to a new place," said Marsolais.

Trails can become a place for health and wellness, and it could lead to quiet, nature immersion. Marsolais said the USFS landscape architect is helping design quiet spaces outside the wellness center, creating a space for quiet recovery. The big plan is to put those spaces throughout the basin.

Marsolais said these are fun times and they are excited to see where the partnership with Barton could lead. Possibly bringing schools into the picture as well as funding partners.

"It takes a village," he said.