Antidepressant Microbes In Soil
It has been discovered that soil contains microbes that have a similar effect on the brain as Prozac or other SSRIs have, without the potential chemical dependence or side effects.
Yes, soil makes us happier and healthier by learning how to make use of the soil's natural antidepressant properties. There has been a long history of natural remedies. These natural treatments helped people with mental and emotional problems as well as almost any physical problem. The fact that something works was all that ancient healers knew. Scientists have only recently discovered remedies that were previously unknown to the modern world but were still part of the natural life cycle. However, now there is evidence of a positive connection between soil microbes and human health that can be verified scientifically.
Modern science has figured out that soil contains a substance called Mycobacterium vaccae which, according to previous studies, increases the level of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex and modulates anxiety. "Our study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) showed Mycobacterium vaccae having the potential to prevent a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like syndrome in mice", said Dr. Christopher Lowry, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, who studied Mycobacterium vaccae’s impact on the brain for more than a decade.
Similar studies in 2004, have shown that while the bacterium didn’t prolong life, it did improve emotional health, in lung cancer patients.
Immunologist John Stanford made the initial discovery of the bacterium in the 1970s near the shores of Lake Kyoga in Uganda. Later it was realized that the bacterium found in the soil of the lakeshore had immune-modulating properties.
The bacterium, which can be found in soil, may make you feel happier and more relaxed by stimulating the production of serotonin, a mood-boosting neurotransmitter hormone. The presence of antidepressant microbes in soil raises cytokine levels, which in turn raises serotonin levels. Depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and bipolar disorders have all been linked to serotonin deficiency. Mycobacterium antidepressant microbes found in soil are also being studied for treating Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and improving cognitive function. In an experiment, rats were given the bacterium to be tested by injecting and ingesting it. The rats had better cognitive ability, less stress, and better focus on tasks than the control group.
In soil, the bacterium does not appear to be harmful to health and appears to be a natural antidepressant. Playing in the dirt with these soil-based antidepressant microbes is the simplest way to feel nature's love. Gardeners will always tell you that their landscape is their "happy place" and that gardening helps them feel better and reduce stress. Many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves are not surprised to learn that there is some healing and relaxing power in soil. This could be the reason why farmers and agricultural workers are believed to be healthier, happier and have lower mortality rates.
Gardeners breathe in the bacteria, come into contact with it on their skin and also transfer it into their bloodstream. The effect of this natural antidepressant stays for more or less than three weeks. They don't only beat the blues but also enhance the quality of life with this natural antidepressant and mood booster.
This means, there remains no excuse for us to stay away from dirt anymore.