Mr. B had a good habit. Every morning, after leaving his house, he would lower his head to look at the potted plants. So that before the phone-surfing time on the MTR, he could gaze at the plants for as much time as possible.
Mr. B left Hong Kong for a business trip last month. In front of his hotel lay a long road with trees on both sides. Different from his habit in Hong Kong, he had to raise his head to see the greenery. Mr. B stayed in that hotel for almost two weeks, and he kept up the tree-watching every day. He made a very interesting discovery. After tree-watching, his head felt relaxed, as if it was recharged. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Did he think that the tree was greener on the other side?
One possible answer is that Mr. B looked up instead of down. He not only saw the leaves but also the blue sky and white clouds.
In February this year, a research paper was published in the scientific journal Landscape and Urban Planning. The study found that when looking up at trees, the scenery that enters the eyes can be divided into three parts: the crown, the sky and the trunk. It turns out that not only the green leaves of the crown are good for the brain (for relieving stress and allowing people to regain concentration), but the blue sky also has the same benefits. The ideal view is made up of mainly the tree crown and the sky, supplemented by the tree trunks. This scenery is exactly what you see when you raise your head to look at the trees. The author of this research paper calls the action of tree-watching a therapeutic outlook.
Past medical research has already confirmed that natural light, through the eyes, can increase the transmission of serotonin in the brain, thereby improving mood. In urban Hong Kong, even if there are no dense forests, there are still many trees in parks and even in public spaces in commercial districts. We can take some time out of our busy days, with a hat and a pair of anti-UV glasses on, to look up at the leaves and the blue sky in between. I had personally tried it. My eyes listened to the symphony of blue sky and green leaves. The combination made me feel comfortable. The unexpected treat from tree-watching is another example of the close connection between the body (vision and posture) and the mind (mental state).
Written by: Dr. William Chui
Originally posted on: Health HKEJ
Translated by: Cheuk Long Chan
