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Get Your Hands Dirty Today


Today I was asked to chat with Darren de Mello and Sue McDougall on 6pr Perth Weekend Wakeup about the antidepressant properties of soil…

That is right, here is another reason why you should get out there and get your hands dirty this weekend, soil can make you happy!

Individual studies by both the University College London and the University of Bristol, which started with cancer patients, found that a bacterium in most soils called Mycobacterium Vacce has the capacity to trick the brain into producing serotonin.

Serotonin is a very important hormone for the brain because we are producing too little of the serotonin then we become susceptible to depression and other illnesses. Low serotonin levels have been linked to a number of health concerns but to name a few they include:

Serotonin is a very important hormone for the brain because we are producing too little of the serotonin then we become susceptible to depression and other illnesses. Low serotonin levels have been linked to a number of health concerns but to name a few they include:

  • Intense muscle pain

  • Irritable bowel syndrome

  • Bipolarity

  • Anxiety

  • Obsessive compulsive disorder

So it is not far-fetched to assume that therapy with the Mycobacterium Vaccae could, one day, become an alternative treatment for depression; however, until then we do know that connecting with nature, fresh air, gentle exercises and now playing with soil helps one naturally combat feelings of anxiety and depression – so get out there and play with the soil!

You might also like to read:

“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 in Neuroscience.

Mind & Brain/Depression and Happiness – Raw Data “Is Dirt the New Prozac?” by Josie Glausiusz, Discover Magazine, July 2007 Issue.

Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

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