Archive · 9 Nov 2025
Nature Prescriptions Gain Momentum in US Healthcare
Imagine you feel really stressed out, maybe because of school or news about the world.
Some doctors are now giving out 'prescriptions' that say you need to go outside and spend time in nature, like in a park or under a tree.
They do this because studies show that being in nature can help people feel less stressed, lower their blood pressure, and even make their bodies stronger.
It's like giving people permission to do something good for themselves that they might think is not important when they are very busy or worried.
These nature prescriptions help people remember to take a break and enjoy the outdoors.
While we don't need a special paper to go outside, a prescription makes it feel more official and helps people actually do it.
Some doctors and even students at colleges are helping others find places to go outside and enjoy nature.
Hundreds of healthcare providers in the US are issuing formal 'nature prescriptions' encouraging patients to spend time outdoors.
This practice is growing as a way to combat stress from social media, political strife, and global conflicts.
Studies suggest spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost immunity.
Organizations like Park Rx America help providers issue these prescriptions, with nearly 2,000 providers registered and over 7,000 prescriptions issued since 2019.
While the long-term effectiveness and follow-through are still being studied, getting outdoors is generally considered beneficial for well-being.
- Who
- Hundreds of healthcare providers in the US and other countries, including organizations like Park Rx America, and students at William & Mary college.
- What
- Issuing formal prescriptions for patients to spend time outdoors, a practice gaining traction as a way to improve mental and physical health.
- When
- The tactic has been gaining momentum, with over 7,000 nature prescriptions issued since 2019 and formalized suggestions beginning about a decade ago.
- Where
- Across the US, and in countries including Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, and Spain. Specific examples include Waterloo, Iowa; Rochester, Minnesota; and William & Mary college in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- Why
- To encourage patients to take their health and well-being seriously, combat stress from social media and global events, and leverage scientific evidence that suggests nature benefits physical and mental health.
Arguments for Nature Prescriptions
Arguments Against Nature Prescriptions
Motivation and Seriousness
Arguments for Nature Prescriptions
Issuing nature as a formal prescription grants permission for patients to engage in activities they might otherwise consider frivolous, increasing the likelihood of follow-through.
Arguments Against Nature Prescriptions
Effectiveness and long-term health outcomes of nature prescriptions are unclear, requiring further research.
Scientific Basis
Arguments for Nature Prescriptions
Multiple studies indicate spending time in natural areas can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost immunity, with scientific evidence suggesting humans are 'wired to be out in nature'.
Arguments Against Nature Prescriptions
While spending time outdoors is generally helpful unless facing extreme conditions like wildfire smoke or mosquito swarms, the specific impact of a 'prescription' versus a general recommendation is not definitively established.
- Number of Nature Prescriptions Issued
- Over 7,000 since 2019
- Number of Registered Providers
- Nearly 2,000 with Park Rx America
- Organizations Promoting Nature Prescriptions
- Park Rx America and about 100 similar organizations across the US
- Initiation of Formalized Prescriptions
- About a decade ago
- Student-Issued Prescriptions (William & Mary)
- Average of 22 per month in 2025