By Lesley Fleming, HTR
Hippocrates, Roger Ulrich, and E.O. Wilson…their perspectives on how nature impacts human health brought about seismic changes in medicine, research, healthcare facility design and much more.
Hippocrates, 460BC-370 BC, who is considered to be the father of medicine, introduced Vis Medicatrix Naturae — the concept of the healing power of nature. It became a guiding principle across disciplines and is still considered today to be powerful and relevant, linking nature (including horticulture) to human health.
Roger Ulrich, 1984, conducted research which revealed that views of nature influence faster health recovery in hospital patients. Frequently cited for this research and his work on evidence-based healthcare design, Ulrich has had global influence on nature-health connections.
E.O. Wilson, 1986, popularized the hypothesis that humans have an instinctual need to connect with nature. This concept — and Wilson’s book of the same name — Biophilia has come to signify the need to integrate nature into our lives…using it to find balance and understanding of the inter-relatedness of all living things.