The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has found that the presence of plants and gardens may be effective in reducing depression and anxiety among cancer patients. The findings are a result of its “Plants Cure” program.
The program was co-conducted by the RDA and Ajou University Hospital from May through August, targeting a total of 20 patients. The treatment used plants to see if exposing patients to activities involving flowers and other houseplants would help keep them mentally stable, free from the melancholia and uneasiness that their ailment may cause.
Throughout the timeframe, subjects took part in a series of sessions in which they made doll-like creations using green grass and made pressed flower artwork. They also did some flower arranging and made herbal tea. They were required to share how they felt out loud, while touching and feeling a variety of plants.
The RDA found that exposure to plants, gardening and arts and crafts boosted patients' level of confidence and their sense of achievement. It was found that the patients accepted their life as it is and felt a rise in self-worth after being exposed to the various plants.
“Seeing my plants grow day by day is sort of a driving force that keeps me going,” said one of the patients. Another patient said that, “What I got from learning how to garden in this program is hope, hope that I will be able to have my disease cured someday.”
According to the RDA, it will now launch a system by which more treatment programs, combined with agricultural activities involving food and animals as well as just plants, will be offered to the public and to patients as well.
Written by Sohn JiAe
Photographed by Wi Tack-whan
jiae5853@korea.kr
The program was co-conducted by the RDA and Ajou University Hospital from May through August, targeting a total of 20 patients. The treatment used plants to see if exposing patients to activities involving flowers and other houseplants would help keep them mentally stable, free from the melancholia and uneasiness that their ailment may cause.
Throughout the timeframe, subjects took part in a series of sessions in which they made doll-like creations using green grass and made pressed flower artwork. They also did some flower arranging and made herbal tea. They were required to share how they felt out loud, while touching and feeling a variety of plants.
Following its “Plants Cure” program, the Rural Development Administration has announced that houseplants and flowers may help ease anxiety and depression among cancer patients.
The RDA found that exposure to plants, gardening and arts and crafts boosted patients' level of confidence and their sense of achievement. It was found that the patients accepted their life as it is and felt a rise in self-worth after being exposed to the various plants.
“Seeing my plants grow day by day is sort of a driving force that keeps me going,” said one of the patients. Another patient said that, “What I got from learning how to garden in this program is hope, hope that I will be able to have my disease cured someday.”
According to the RDA, it will now launch a system by which more treatment programs, combined with agricultural activities involving food and animals as well as just plants, will be offered to the public and to patients as well.
Written by Sohn JiAe
Photographed by Wi Tack-whan
jiae5853@korea.kr
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