Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

[itchybromusic]

C&P From http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

 

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/garden-soil-400x266.jpg

Image by amoceptum

By Bonnie L. Grant

Prozac may not be the only way to get rid of your serious blues. Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential. Learn how to harness the natural antidepressant in soil and make yourself happier and healthier. Read on to see how dirt makes you happy.

Natural remedies have been around for untold centuries. These natural remedies included cures for almost any physical ailment as well as mental and emotional afflictions. Ancient healers may not have known why something worked but simply that it did. Modern scientists have unraveled the why of many medicinal plants and practices but only recently are they finding remedies that were previously unknown and yet, still a part of the natural life cycle. Soil microbes and human health now have a positive link which has been studied and found to be verifiable.

Soil Microbes and Human Health

Did you know that there’s a natural antidepressant in soil? It’s true. Mycobacterium vaccae is the substance under study and has indeed been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress.

Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar problems. The bacterium appears to be a natural antidepressant in soil and has no adverse health effects. These antidepressant microbes in soil may be as easy to use as just playing in the dirt.

Most avid gardeners will tell you that their landscape is their “happy place” and the actual physical act of gardening is a stress reducer and mood lifter. The fact that there is some science behind it adds additional credibility to these garden addicts’ claims. The presence of a soil bacteria antidepressant is not a surprise to many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves. Backing it up with science is fascinating, but not shocking, to the happy gardener. Mycobacterium antidepressant microbes in soil are also being investigated for improving cognitive function, Crohn’s disease and even rheumatoid arthritis.

 

How Dirt Makes You Happy

Antidepressant microbes in soil cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. The bacterium was tested both by injection and ingestion on rats and the results were increased cognitive ability, lower stress and better concentration to tasks than a control group.

Gardeners inhale the bacteria, have topical contact with it and get it into their bloodstreams when there is a cut or other pathway for infection. The natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can be felt for up to 3 weeks if the experiments with rats are any indication. So get out and play in the dirt and improve your mood and your life.

https://youtu.be/G6WxEQrWUik

Resources:

“Identification of an Immune-Responsive Mesolimbocortical Serotonergic System: Potential Role in Regulation of Emotional Behavior,” by Christopher Lowry et al., published online on March 28, 2007 inNeuroscience.

http://www.sage.edu/newsevents/news/?story_id=240785

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/images/gg607.pdf (pg 12)

Mind & Brain/Depression and Happiness – Raw Data “Is Dirt the New Prozac?” by Josie Glausiusz, Discover Magazine, July 2007 Issue. http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac

 

 

[Naycha]

Cool read, cheers.

[louise]

Nice read... a few inaccuracies as to what antidepressants actually do, but a nice read anyway.

 

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't wash off the dirt when you finish gardening though, not all soil borne bacteria are that 'nice'.

[itchybromusic]

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't wash off the dirt when you finish gardening though, not all soil borne bacteria are that 'nice'.

been thinking bout that ever since i posted , was going to remove the post cause of that,  

but hoped no one was going to pop out for a quick mud prozac pie in the back yard 

 

but yes please wash ya hands & musking up is not a bad idea as well 

 

i do enjoy getting my bare hands down in the dirt though 

[Vestonnel]

Usefull for me, thanks. It's reason to wash always arms.

[Frank Reynolds]

Remember reading something a while back talking about how greening up indoor spaces can attribute to happiness and generally healthier breathing space etc.

[louise]

Australian Crawl were onto it with Beautiful People... "... garden is full of furniture, the house if full of plants."

[itchybromusic]

Australian Crawl were onto it with Beautiful People... "... garden is full of furniture, the house if full of plants."

Arrrr memories , played that song every friday & saturday night for like a million years complete with David Reyne incoherent lyrics

but that was only because by that time of the night the singer was slightly incoherent , ok , he was pissed , which worked out well for "that" song really !

Edited December 3, 2015 by itchybromusic