Does Plant Therapy Work? Nature & Essential Oils For Mental Health
If you've ever felt happier or calmer after spending time in nature, you might be interested in the healing effects of horticulture. Plant therapy, also known as horticultural therapy or ecotherapy, uses gardening, plants, and nature as a form of guided therapeutic treatment. This type of counseling may help address a variety of mental health concerns—particularly in combination with traditional, evidence-based talk therapy treatments. Below is an overview of what horticultural therapy is, what it can be used for, and what the research says about it, plus other ways to benefit from nature and how to get online mental health support.
What is plant therapy?
Plant therapy, or horticultural therapy (HT), is an approach to mental health support that involves hands-on gardening activities. A specially trained horticultural therapist will guide the client through gardening tasks as a way to work toward therapeutic goals, like reduced stress or depression symptoms. Guided HT gardening tasks may include things like:
- Planning a garden plot
- Preparing soil
- Planting seeds
- Watering plants
- Pulling weeds
- Touching, smelling, or admiring plants
- Using mediation or other techniques in a garden or other green space
HT is different from traditional psychotherapy in that it typically takes place outside and focuses more on hands-on activities than talking, though there is often dialogue between the therapist and client. For treating diagnosable mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, HT isn’t generally considered a replacement for evidence-based talk therapy methods like CBT, but rather a helpful supplement.
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Outside of horticultural therapy with a trained practitioner, individuals may also be able to harness the healing power of plants on their own. Gardening in your backyard, cultivating plants inside your home, or spending time in your local park or forest may also bring mental health benefits.
How horticultural therapy sessions typically work
Horticultural therapy sessions led by a trained provider typically use gardening tasks in a structured way to help clients work toward their goals. For example, client and therapist may work together to clean and weed a garden plot as they work on cognitive techniques to cope with distorted thinking. This is just one example; HT sessions can take many different forms depending on the therapist’s training, the client’s needs, and the location where the therapy takes place.
Origins of plant therapy
The use of gardens as places for contemplation and the use of gardening as a way to promote reflection and peace dates back to ancient Persian civilizations. In more modern times, therapeutic gardens were used to help with the rehabilitation of WWII veterans, after which this approach became more widespread in the US. The American Horticultural Therapy Association was founded in 1973 to support practitioners in this growing field.
How plant therapy can support mental health
Horticultural therapy may be used as a primary or, more often, supplemental treatment for several different mental health concerns. For example, research suggests it may help with:
- Improving anxiety and sleep. Horticultural activities with ornamental and aromatic plants may help alleviate anxiety and improve sleep quality.
- Reducing stress. Individuals—particularly adults over 60 years old, according to one study—may experience reduced stress levels thanks to horticultural therapy.
- Decreasing depression symptoms. In addition to usual care like talk therapy and medication, horticultural interventions may help reduce depression symptoms in adults, and treatment adherence tends to be high.
- Cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose. Whether formal or informal, gardening-related activities may help give a person a sense of meaning and purpose, which research links to positive mental health outcomes.
Gardening-based interventions may also improve self-efficacy, which can help with focus and goal achievement. Finally, gardening can be an opportunity for social connection in many cases, which is a key component of mental well-being.
Who may benefit from horticulture therapy?
People of all ages and backgrounds have the potential to benefit from horticultural therapy. You might be especially interested in exploring it if you:
- Enjoy spending time in nature, or want to spend more time in nature
- Tend to appreciate hands-on activities
- Want to cultivate a sense of mindfulness
Even if you have no gardening experience, a trained horticultural therapist can guide you through various tasks and exercises to help you reap the potential benefits of this approach.
Note, however, that plant therapy may not be the best primary intervention for those experiencing severe symptoms of any mental health condition. A licensed therapist or psychiatrist can give you a summary of their treatment recommendations and help you understand which therapy approaches could be best for your unique needs.
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Find your matchOther ways to incorporate the benefits of plants into daily life at home
Grow indoor houseplants
Surrounding oneself with indoor plants can be calming. Houseplants like snake plants, spider plants, and pothos are low maintenance and easy to care for, making them ideal for beginners or busy individuals. Research suggests that even gardening with “small-scale greenery,” such as caring for indoor potted plants or balcony herbs, may help reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and boost productivity. In addition, house plants such as lavender and jasmine release calming fragrances that some people may find relaxing and soothing.
Take nature walks
You might also consider taking walks in natural settings, such as parks, forests, or botanical gardens, to connect with plants and the environment. Nature walks offer a simple yet effective way to get some exercise and enjoy the plant life in your area. Research suggests that time in nature may help improve mood and focus and increase feelings of happiness and connectedness.
Visit or join a community garden
Joining a community garden can allow you to connect with others through calming gardening activities. It may also help create a stronger sense of community and belonging and give you opportunities to learn new skills and positively impact the environment.
Create nature-based art
Creating art using natural materials can be a soothing form of self-expression. You might use fallen leaves, flowers, or branches to make something new, whether it’s a temporary arrangement outside or a piece you can hang in your home. This type of art-making can allow you to connect with nature in a way that’s unique to you.
Try forest bathing
Practicing the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, which is immersing oneself in the calming atmosphere of a forest, may help reduce stress and enhance overall well-being. Research suggests it can have several potential health benefits when practiced regularly, such as reduced blood pressure, improved immune system function, and increased feelings of relaxation. To practice forest bathing, take a leisurely walk in a forest or natural area, taking in the surroundings through your senses and focusing on the present moment.
Explore plant-based essential oils
While further research may be needed, some studies suggest that essential oils and aromatherapy may bring some mental health benefits, such as promoting relaxation and boosting mood. For example, some people may find scents like lavender and tea tree oil to be relaxing.
You may be able to enjoy these benefits by using a diffuser or essential-oils based products like lotions. Be sure to follow proper safety precautions, such as keeping the oils away from children and pets and avoiding contact with skin unless you’ve properly diluted them. Keep in mind that ingesting essential oils can be dangerous and is generally not recommended.
Finding a horticultural therapist
Horticultural therapy generally must be done in person, since it involves hands-on work with plants. If you’re interested in HT, it’s advisable to meet with a specially trained and registered mental health professional, such as one who is qualified by the American Horticulture Therapy Association.
Also note that, on its own, HT may not be sufficient for treating symptoms of diagnosable conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others. It may be most effective in combination with more traditional, evidence-based treatments like talk therapy.
How online therapy can complement nature-based approaches
Another option for nature-based healing is to use forest bathing or at-home gardening for mental health in addition to receiving talk therapy treatment from a mental health professional. If you have few therapists in your area or don't have time to commute to in-person talk therapy sessions, consider online care.
A platform like BetterHelp allows you to meet with a licensed therapist remotely, via phone, video, or live chat. Through any of these formats, they can help you address a variety of mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to low self-esteem, grief, trauma, stress, and others. Research suggests that online therapy can often be as effective as in-person therapy for treating common mental health concerns, and it’s often more affordable than in-person care without insurance.
BetterHelp subscriptions start at $70–$100 per week, billed monthly or weekly. Some BetterHelp therapists now accept select insurance plans (state-limited), or you can pay with your HSA/FSA card. For qualifying non-insurance users who sign up, financial aid is available.
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Takeaway
What is plant therapy, and is it the same as horticultural therapy?
Plant therapy is the same thing as horticultural therapy, where a person engages in goal-directed gardening activities under the guidance of a horticultural therapist. It’s often a supplemental therapy used alongside other treatments to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns.
Is plant therapy a real type of therapy with evidence behind it?
Plant therapy, or horticultural therapy, is real and has evidence supporting its effectiveness for addressing certain mental health concerns—typically when used in combination with other evidence-based methods. For example, one study suggests that guided plant therapy may help reduce anxiety and improve sleep.
What therapy uses plants and gardening for mental health?
Horticultural therapy uses plants and gardening to help improve mental, physical, and emotional well-being. A registered horticultural therapist works with an individual to help them engage in goal-directed horticultural tasks, which may help lower anxiety, improve mood, and assist physical healing by reducing stress.
Can plant therapy help with PTSD, anxiety, or depression?
Plant therapy, also known as horticultural therapy, is not considered a first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression, but it may be useful as an adjunctive treatment. Adjunctive treatments are used alongside primary treatment methods to improve their effectiveness, speed healing, or bolster overall well-being. First-line treatments for PTSD, anxiety, and depression are typically some form of evidence-based talk therapy, sometimes in combination with medication.
Why are plants so therapeutic for stress and mood?
Engaging with plants through informal gardening or formal horticultural therapy may reduce stress and boost mood because it offers an opportunity for physical exercise, sun and positive microbe exposure, and fulfilling, goal-directed behavior. Research on additional pathways for benefitting from horticulture therapy and plant exposure is ongoing.
What is plant-based therapy, and how is it different from plant therapy?
Plant-based therapy, plant therapy, and horticultural therapy may be used interchangeably to refer to a type of mental health treatment where a trained therapist guides a person through goal-directed gardening activities to improve mental well-being. However, plant-based therapy could also refer to a nutritionist using plant-based eating guidelines to help a person improve their physical health.
What is another name for plant therapy?
Plant therapy is also called horticultural therapy. It’s a type of supplemental mental health treatment where a trained provider guides a client through goal-directed gardening tasks to address symptoms of stress, anxiety, or others.
Is Plant Therapy a brand, and is Plant Therapy 100% pure essential oils?
Plant Therapy is a brand of essential oils. According to their website, the essential oils they sell are 100% pure.
Which plants are best for mental health and stress relief?
When it comes to horticultural therapy, one study suggests that ornamental and functional aromatic plants (like geraniums, jasmine, lavender mint, and sage) helped the most with anxiety relief and could also be useful for stress. If you’re interested in exploring plant therapy for mental health, consider connecting with a trained horticultural therapist.
What is plant medicine therapy, and is it evidence-based?
Plant medicine therapy can sometimes be used to refer to horticultural therapy, where a trained provider guides a client through gardening tasks to improve mental health. This type of treatment is evidence-based, though it’s typically a supplemental treatment for mental health challenges rather than a first-line approach.
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