The Picture of Health

We don’t need science to tell us that a quiet walk in the woods or an afternoon on an empty beach will make us feel better. But a growing body of evidence suggests that bringing natural beauty inside can help hospital patients heal faster. Roger S. Ulrich, a professor at the Texas A&M University College of Architecture, found that heart-surgery patients in intensive-care units who viewed a landscape picture with trees and water reported less anxiety and needed fewer strong doses of pain meds than the control group. In addition, he reported that looking at nature scenes—either through a window or in a painting or photograph—produced a significant reduction in stress within only about five minutes.

“Art offers healing benefits at home too,” says art consultant Vicki Hovde of SpiritOne Arts Center and Gallery near Minneapolis. She recommends:

Nature images as well as objects made of natural elements such as wood, metal, and stone

Handmade objects and items with texture such as quilts, fiber arts, and pottery

Meaningful images such as photos of family and places with good memories

Objects representing spirituality or elements of your faith