Recommending time in nature has long been part of healthcare advice. Currently, the concept of nature prescription is transforming familiar recommendations into a structured therapeutic approach.

The nature-prescribing movement is gaining momentum in France. “The Global Health Working Group of the French College of General Medicine is currently preparing a brochure titled Nature Prescriptions,” said Jean Doubovetzky, MD, general practitioner in Albi, France, during the 30th WONCA Europe Conference 2026.

“It is now well established that spending time in nature provides psychological benefits. It reduces stress, relieves anxiety, and has an antidepressant effect.” Doubovetzky said.

Sensory Contact

A nature prescription is a physician’s recommendation to spend time in natural environments to promote physical and mental health, much like prescribing medication or, more recently, physical activity. Nature prescriptions encourage patients to spend more time in nature through a variety of outdoor activities.

In practice, “prescribing nature means writing ‘spend time in nature’ on a prescription instead of beginning with advice, medications, or diagnostic tests. Ideally, patients should spend time in nature through activities such as walking in a park or woodland, swimming, gardening, or spending time with animals — anything that encourages them to engage their senses in the natural environment. When we talk about nature, we are not referring to places untouched by human presence. A city park or garden is perfectly suitable. Even when going outdoors is not possible, looking at photographs or videos of natural landscapes, or simply enjoying the view from a window, may also provide benefits,” said Doubovetzky.

Mental Benefits

Why is time spent in nature considered therapeutic?

“We have strong evidence that it reduces stress, lowers anxiety, and has an antidepressant effect. In depression, for example, spending time in nature provides benefits comparable with those of physical activity, which itself has effects similar to those of some antidepressants,” Doubovetzky said.

Although research on the health benefits of nature has expanded substantially, overall evidence remains relatively limited.

“Not all the mechanisms underlying these psychological effects are fully understood, but we know that spending time in nature is associated with measurable reductions in cortisol, the stress hormone,” Doubovetzky said. “It also appears to provide additive benefits when combined with other treatments, including psychotherapy, medication, and exercise.”

What about physical health?

“We know less about the physical effects than the psychological benefits,” Doubovetzky acknowledged. Evidence from several randomized trials and meta-analyses, although based on heterogeneous methodologies and generally modest sample sizes, suggests that exposure to nature lowers blood pressure, may reduce cardiovascular mortality, and improve diabetes outcomes.

Exposure to natural environments may also strengthen immune function. Paradoxically, spending time in nature has also been associated with fewer allergic reactions than living exclusively in urban settings.

Another advantage is that nature therapy is relatively inexpensive. “In my practice, these outings are often coordinated by a primary care nurse involved in France’s ASALEE Project, which integrates nurses into general practice. Although this involves some cost, it remains less expensive than many drug treatments while also promoting physical activity and social interaction,” Doubovetzky said.

Who Benefits?

In practice, Doubovetzky recommends placing the “nature prescription” at the top of the prescription, so patients are more likely to notice it. His recommendation is straightforward: “Spend time in nature several times a week for at least 20 minutes each time, aiming for a total of at least 2 hours/wk.”

The primary indications include chronic conditions, particularly hypertension, recovery after myocardial infarction, obesity, and diabetes.

Recovery after stroke is generally less suitable. “Individuals often have difficulty walking, and physical therapy may be more appropriate than participation in a walking group,” he said.

Nature prescription may also benefit patients with severe anxiety or depression.

“I recommend psychotherapy from the outset, together with nature-based interventions and physical activity,” Doubovetzky said. “Anhedonia associated with depression often makes it difficult for patients to leave home and spend time outdoors. In my view, the point at which patients begin doing so is an important sign of progress.”

Growing Evidence

Nature prescribing originated in the US more than a decade ago and have since spread to several countries, including Canada.

One landmark study was conducted in Japan, where the practice of shinrin yoku, or “forest bathing,” originated. The crossover study included 280 healthy participants with a mean age of 21 years. Half of them spent their first day walking or relaxing in a forest, whereas the other half spent the same amount of time in an urban environment. The groups then switched locations on the second day.

Forest bathing was associated with reductions in salivary cortisol concentrations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate.

Another large UK study involving approximately 20,000 participants found that individuals who spent at least 120 minutes in nature during the previous week reported better overall health and greater well-being than those with no recreational exposure to natural environments. Benefits were already evident among participants who spent up to 60 minutes in nature and appeared to plateau between 120 and 180 minutes a week.

This story was translated from Medscape’s French edition.