Without a healthy planet, we cannot have a healthy humanity.
Every April is Earth Month, an opportunity to reflect on the deep and profound connection between the health of our planet and our own well-being. Our existence is dependent on the web of life that surrounds us. It is our responsibility to nurture and protect it.
In this post, I describe just a few of the ways in which planetary health influences human health, underscoring the urgent need for ecological mindfulness in this time of climate crisis.
Nature as Medicine
The concept of nature as medicine is not new. Humanity has long understood the therapeutic benefits of the natural world. Today, we know more about the extent to which nature contributes to our health.
- Medicinal Plants: An estimated 70,000 herbal plants have been used for medicinal applications, mainly in Asia.
- However, most plants have not yet been evaluated in modern clinical trials. This is partly because of rules about what can be patented and sold as a drug in many countries, removing much of the potential financial gain from investigating plant-derived medicines.
- Even so, the potential for more plant-based medical discoveries is ebbing away as humans destroy the rain forests — which are home to the greatest plant biodiversity on earth.
- Biodiverse forests play a critical role in filtering diseases and reducing the incidence of outbreaks. Deforestation is correlated with increased Lyme disease and Ebola outbreaks because of more human-wild animal interactions.
- Sunlight and Vitamin D: Essential for bone health and immune function, sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D, which is crucial for our bodies to thrive.
- Food sources of Vitamin D include egg yolks, some fish, certain animal proteins, and fortified foods like milk (including plant-based milks), cereal, and some orange juices.
- Most people don’t need supplements.
- Green and Blue Spaces: Spending time in and around parks, gardens, oceans, and lakes has been linked to reduced rates of diabetes and heart disease AND improved mental health.
- Time spent in and around nature is incredibly calming. Just hearing natural sounds, such as birdsong or ocean waves, also has health benefits.
Nature in Danger, Humans in Danger
Climate change and pollution are not just threats to planetary health, but also to human health.
- Vector-Borne Diseases: Warmer temperatures are allowing disease-carrying mosquitoes to expand into new regions, increasing risks of malaria, dengue, and Zika.
- Heat-Related Conditions: Rising temperatures have led to an uptick in heat-related health issues, including asthma and heart disease.
- The Plastic Problem: Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous particles in our air, water, and food.
- Their presence in human bodies may be associated with endocrine disruption, increased mortality, and cardiovascular events, among other serious issues.
- If you missed our podcast on the issue back in January, catch up here.
- Particulate Matter: The same fossil fuel technologies that are driving the climate crisis and plastic pollution crisis are also responsible for the dangerous particulate matter in the air.
- There is no “safe” level of PM2.5 in the atmosphere.
It is clear that the health of our planet is inextricably linked to human health. The solutions to many of our health challenges lie in the preservation and protection of our natural world. Let us take a moment, now, to commit to actions that will ensure a healthy planet for future generations. In doing so, we will benefit the health and happiness of humanity itself.
Lisa M. Lines