Ecopsychosomatics

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The Ökopsychosomatik (also: Eco-psychosomatic) is a concept in psycho , body and nature therapy , in environmental medicine and in alternative environmental and Greencare movement , the man and the environment to contact each other and examined.

It deals with health-damaging environmental factors and their effects and with health-promoting influences of the environment and nature on people. It is aimed at reducing positive ecological influences through eco-psychosomatic, i.e. H. To use methods that affect body, soul, spirit and social behavior such as natural therapies , forest medicine , green exercises, running therapy , green care activities as health enrichment. It is aimed at counteracting pollution factors that are harmful to the environment, to raise awareness of environmentally destructive activities and thus to preserve the healing potential of nature and its importance for salutogenesis .

Development of ecopsychosomatics

The first applications and concepts of early forms of eco-psychosomatics can be found in the euthymic therapy of well-being of antiquity and in Hippocratic medicine. The earliest sources refer to the teachings of Herodicus (5th century BC) who used running therapy, diets and massages in what can be described as eco-psychosomatic practice. In the course of its development, contemporary ecopsychosomatics has primarily developed in three different fields.

Ecopsychosomatics in psychotherapy

In psychotherapy , body psychotherapy and nature therapy , ecopsychosomatics serves as an extension of traditional psychosomatics . Since the 1970s, Hilarion G. Petzold , Hildegund Heinl and Anton Leitner have developed psychosomatic concepts and treatment methods for biopsychosocial disorders in which, with a view to the evolutionary roots of humans in their physicality and in their ecological contexts, i.e. H. In nature, but also in the world of work, environmental theoretical considerations and theories on the environment-person fit were included. With them - for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders - ecological measures (environmental modeling) and "eco-psychosomatic" interventions should be developed. The aim was to overcome the implicit dualism in the traditional psychosomatic concept.

Ecopsychosomatics in environmental medicine

In environmental medicine , ecopsychosomatics is used to examine the harmful effects of environmental pollution. Somatic diseases and psycho-vegetative disorders triggered by the introduction of pollutants and sensory over-stimulation (noise, heat, smell, etc.) are the main subjects of investigation. The eco-psychosomatic concept by Sigrun Preuss has not yet been widely used in the field of environmental medicine, because the subject is discussed under the terms “eco-syndrome” and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

In the context of nature therapy, the biologist and author Clemens Arvay takes up the concept of eco-psychosomatics. With reference to the biophilia hypothesis of EO Wilson , to the results of forest medicine and to forest therapy for Japanese forest bathing, he represents a practice of health promotion as "healing from the forest", which mainly focuses on the health-protecting effects of contact with nature and experience of nature Immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system and the neurovegetative stress axis in the sense of a physiological balance of the body's own processes. Arvay regards eco-psychosomatic interventions as preventive measures (in relation to lifestyle) and as therapy-accompanying measures (in the sense of complementary medicine). The American environmental journalist Richard Louv summarized this approach as follows:

“Clemens Arvay extends the growing body of literature supporting EO Wilson's biophilia hypothesis. Arvay goes an additional step, offering a multitude of suggestions for how to gain the physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of biophilia — whether in the far wilderness, nearby nature, or our own homes. "

“Clemens Arvay is adding to the growing body of literature that supports EO Wilson's biophilia hypothesis. Arvay goes one step further and offers a variety of suggestions on how to harness the physical, psychological and spiritual benefits of biophilia - be it in the wild, in natural surroundings or at home. "

- Richard Louv

Spiritual ecopsychosomatics

In the movement of alternative ecology and natural spirituality, the term eco-psychosomatics is used by Werner Sattmann Freese and Stuart Hill (2008) in the sense of a spiritual eco -psychosomatics . By creating synergies between body and mind as well as people and the world, learning for sustainable living is to be made possible in order to enable ecological transformation. Within psychosomatic learning processes, illness should be used to achieve a higher level of spiritual wholeness, which lies in the attainment of an experimental eco-self-consciousness (eco-self-consciousness).

In the spiritual eco-psychosomatics there are connections to the Gaia hypothesis and planetary medicine by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis and to concepts of ecopsychology , which was founded by Theodore Roszak , protagonist of the counterculture and American ecology movement.

Integrative eco-psychosomatic medicine

Integrative eco-psychosomatics and its methods ( integrative movement therapy and integrative natural therapies ) are based on the anthropological image of man as the “informed body” and describe the individual as embedded in the surrounding ecology. Within biographical learning processes (ecologization), the environment is absorbed and "embodied" by the individual. The concept of ecologization includes the ecological aspects of human socialization and enculturation as well as human experiences within the ecological world. The new terms homo mundanus (Wolfgang Welsch) and homo oecologicus (Eckhard Meinberg, Hilarion Petzold) as well as the non-dualistic nature and body concepts by Maurice Merleau-Ponty form the main components of the eco-psychosomatic approach to man and nature. Therapeutic application methods in ecopsychosomatics supplement medicinal medical treatment methods with breathing, exercise, nutritional and nature therapies as well as garden, landscape, animal-assisted and forest therapeutic methods.

Ecological health and disease science

The ecological health and disease theory within eco-psychosomatics describes the entanglement of the informed body with an informing environment . The focus of the conception is on adequate and dysfunctional environmental stimulation and the associated adequate or inadequate supply of vital resources of food and adequate care, which can have both positive and negative effects on human development. The ecological health and disease theory aims methodically at the curative provision of missing resources, at prevention and the compensation of dysfunctional human-environment relationships. This should be implemented through the application of natural therapeutic and green care concepts. In this context, ecological health and disease theory assumes that a salutogenic quality for human development and lifestyle is guaranteed with a method-appropriate person-environment adaptation. On the other hand, a bad fit results from dysfunctional environmental stimulation such as traumatic overload, conflicts, undersupply, overburdened experiences, alarming ecological stress that activates the stress axis, which creates risks of pathogenic developments.

Scientific eco-psychosomatics

In the recent past in particular, an evidence-based and empirical- scientific branch of ecopsychosomatics has emerged in which the human organism is understood and researched functionally as expanded beyond its external limits and embedded in an evolutionary functional circle with its natural habitats. The scientific eco-psychosomatic medicine is based on biomedical research methods. For example, she investigates the effect of micro- and mesoclimatic influences as well as bioactive natural substances (phytoaerosols, electroaerosols, soil-borne microbes, herbal fragrances, etc.) on the human immune function, the endocrine system or the cardiovascular system. She uses neurophysiological methods such as electroencephalography (EEG) and imaging processes such as functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRI) to analyze the effects of natural sensory stimuli (especially visual and auditory) on the brain and, from this, to draw objective conclusions about salutogenic effects and potential therapeutic uses of ecosystem stimulants to pull. Among other things, she analyzes blood and tissue samples in order to examine the influence of particular climates such as at the sea, near waterfalls or in high mountains on the course of chronic inflammatory skin and respiratory diseases. Forest medicine, which specifically deals with the effects of the forest climate on organic health, is another example of scientific eco-psychosomatics.

Harmful ecological influences

In addition to an orientation of the lifestyle in the sense of salutogenesis , eco-psychosomatics is also about pathogenic effects of the environment through noxae that trigger patho-psychophysiological reactions. Directly or indirectly harmful immissions can be visible or invisible, e.g. B. by noise, smell, electromagnetic radiation, mold infestation in rooms, fine dust (NOx => nitrogen oxides ) from car exhaust fumes and much more.

literature

  • CG Arvay (2016): Nature's Healing Code Discovering the hidden powers of plants and animals. Riemann Verlag, Munich 2016.
  • CG Arvay (2019): Eco-Psychosomatics - The Link between Natural Habitats and Human Health , in: LI Q. et al. (Ed.): International Handbook of Forest Therapy, pp. 42-59. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Cambridge.
  • G. Fleury-Bahi, E. Pol, O. Navarro: Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research. Springer International Publishing, New York 2017.
  • H. Heinl 1993: Therapy from the body - body-related treatment in practice. In: HG Petzold, J. Sieper: Integration and Creation. 2 volumes, Junfermann, Paderborn 1993, pp. 341-350, 2nd edition 1996.
  • R. Hömberg, (2016): Ecopsychosomatics and forest therapy in the integrative process. Hückeswagen: European Academy for Biopsychosocial Health. FPI publications. Green texts. ISSN  2511-2759
  • A. Leitner, J. Sieper (2008): On the way to an integrative psychosomatics. The bio-psycho-social model of the integrative approach. In: Integrative Therapy. 3, 2009, pp. 199–242 and POLYLOGE issue 34/2008, fpi-publikation.de accessed February 10, 2017.
  • Q. Li (2014): Forest Medicine. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
  • HG Petzold (2006): Ökosophie, Ökophilie, Ökopsychosomatik materials on ecological stress and healing potential. In: Integrative Therapy 1 (2006) 62–99. At FPI-Publikationen.de - POLYLOGE: materials from the European Academy for Psychosocial Health. 16/2006 and ISSN  2511-2732 fpi-publikation.de accessed February 10, 2017.
  • HG Petzold (2016): The "New Natural Therapies", committed "Green Care", forest therapeutic practice. In: N. Altner (2016): Smell the fire, feel the wind. How mindfulness in nature strengthens us and the living world. ISSN  2511-2759 fpi-publikation.de accessed January 9, 2017.
  • S. Preuss (1995): Ökopsychosomatik. Environmental pollution and psycho-vegetative complaints. Asanger, Heidelberg.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ HG Petzold, R. Frank, B. Ellerbrock: Going Green is Health Enrichment. (PDF) In: Integrative Therapy Vol. 7 No. 3. 2011, pp. 291-312 , accessed on February 10, 2017 .
  2. ↑ HG Petzold: The “NEW NATURAL THERAPIES” - Clinical Ecology and Ecopsychosmatics in the “Green Care Movement” - Caring for Nature and Caring for People. In: Green Texts 08/2015. 2015, accessed February 24, 2017 .
  3. ↑ Petzold HG, Moser, S., Orth, I .: Euthyme therapy - healing art and health promotion in the asklepiadic tradition: an integrative and behavioral treatment approach "multiple stimulation" and "lifestyle change". (PDF) In: Psychologische Medizin 2. 2012, pp. 40–48 , accessed on February 24, 2017 .
  4. ^ Georgoulis, AD, Kiapidou, IS, Velogianni, L., Stergiou, N., Boland, A .: Herodicus, the father of sports medicine . In: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy . tape 3 , 2007, p. 315-318 .
  5. ↑ HG Petzold: Thymopraktik as body-related work in the Integrative Therapy . In: Integrative Therapy . tape 2/3 , 1975, p. 115-145 .
  6. ^ H. Heinl: body and symbolization . In: Integrative Therapy . tape 4 , 1975, p. 227-231 .
  7. ^ HG Petzold, H. Heinl: Psychotherapy and the world of work . Junfermann, Paderborn 1983.
  8. ^ HG Petzold, R. Hömberg: Nature therapy - animal-assisted, garden and landscape therapeutic interventions. In: Psychologische Medizin 2. 2014, pp. 40–48 , accessed on February 24, 2017 .
  9. ↑ Ecopsychosomatics. Spectrum. Lexicon of Psychology. Retrieved February 24, 2017 .
  10. ^ S. Preuss: Ökopsychosomatik. Environmental pollution and psycho-vegetative complaints . Asanger, Heidelberg 1995.
  11. ↑ B. Eberlein-Koenig, B. Przybilla, P. Kühnl, G. Golling, I. Gebosedi, J. Ring: “Eco-syndrome” Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and others: allergological, environmental and psychological investigations in individuals with indoor air related complaints . In: International of Hygiene and Environmental Health . tape 3 , no. 205 , 2001, p. 213-220 .
  12. ↑ C. Arvay: The Biophilia Effect - Healing from the Forest . In: Edition a . Vienna 2016.
  13. ↑ CG Arvay: The Biophilia Effect: Healing from the Forest . 1st edition. edition a, Vienna 2015, ISBN 978-3-99001-113-3 .
  14. ^ CG Arvay: The Healing Code of Nature: Discovering the New Science of Eco-Psychosomatics . 1st edition. Sounds True, Boulder, Colorado 2018, ISBN 978-1-68364-031-8 .
  15. ↑ Marc Bekoff: The Biophilia Effect: Exploring the Healing Power of Nature. In: Psychology Today. January 10, 2018, accessed September 24, 2018 .
  16. ^ JE Lovelock, L. Margulis: Atmospheric homeostasis by and for the biosphere: the Gaia hypothesis . In: International Meteorological Institute (ed.): Tellus . Stockholm 1974, p. 2-10 .
  17. ↑ HG Petzold, Orth, I., Orth-Petzold, S .: Integrative body and movement therapy - a human-ecological approach. The "extended bio-psychosocial model" and its experience-activating practice modalities . In: Integrative movement therapy . tape 1 , 2009, p. 4 - 48 ( fpi-publikation.de [PDF]).
  18. ^ HG Petzold, R. Hömberg: Nature therapy - animal-assisted, garden and landscape therapeutic interventions. In: Psychological Medicine 2. POLYLOGUE: Materials from the European Academy for Psychosocial Health 11/2014, pp. 40–48 , accessed on February 10, 2017 .
  19. ↑ M. Merleau-Ponty: La Nature. Notes de Cours de Collège de France . In: D. Seglard (Ed.): Edition du Seuil . Paris 2002.
  20. ↑ Hilarion G. Petzold: Body-soul-spirit-world relationships in integrative therapy. The “informed body”, the “psychophysical problem” and practice. In: Psychological Medicine 1 . Schattauer, Stuttgart 2009, p. 20-33 (c).
  21. ↑ Stevan E. Hobfoll: The ecology of stress . Hemisphere, Washington DC 1988.
  22. ↑ Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Gregory E. Miller,: Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry . In: Psychological bulletin . tape 4 , no. 130 , 2017, p. 601-630 .
  23. ^ Clemens Arvay: Eco-Psychosomatics - The Link between Natural Habitats and Human Health . In: Qing Li et al. (Ed.): International Handbook of Forest Therapy . Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Cambridge 2019, pp. 42-59 .
  24. ^ Clemens Arvay: The Healing Code of Nature - Discovering the New Science of Eco-Psychosomatics . Sounds True Publishing, Boulder, Colorado 2019, pp. 171-172 .
  25. ↑ Clemens Arvay: Environmental Medicine - active substances of the atmosphere . In: Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau . tape 850 . Scientific publishing company, Stuttgart 2019, p. 182-184 .
  26. ^ Qing Li, et al .: Phytoncides (Wood Essential Oils) Induce Human Natural Killer Cells Activity . In: Journal of Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology . tape 28 , no. 2 , 2006, p. 319-333 .
  27. ↑ Jenny Roe, Peter Aspinall, Mavros Panagiotis and Richard Coyne: Engaging the Brain: The Impact of Natural versus Urban Scenes using Novel EEG Methods in an Experimental Setting . In: Environmental Sciences . tape 1 , no. 2 , 2013, p. 93-104 .
  28. ^ Tae-Hoon Kim et al .: Human Brain Activation in Response to Visual Stimulation with Rural and Urban Scenery Pictures: A Functional Magnetic Imaging Study . In: Science of the Total Environment . tape 408 , 2010, p. 2600-2607 .
  29. ↑ K. Fieten et al .: Effectiveness of alpine climate treatment for children with difficult to treat atopic dermatitis: results of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (DAVOS trial) . In: Clinical and Experimental Allergy . tape 48 , no. 2 , 2018, p. 186-195 .
  30. ^ Arnulf Hartl: Krimmler waterfalls - therapy of bronchial asthma . Paracelsus Medical Private University, 2010.
  31. ^ Clemens Arvay: Updating the Biophilia Hypothesis in the Context of Forest Medicine . In: Qing Li (Ed.): International Handbook of Forest Medicine . Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Cambridge 2019, pp. 32-41 .
  32. ^ Qing Li: Forest Medicine - Public Health in the 21st Century . Nova Biomedical, New York 2011.
  33. ^ S. Preuss: Environmental pollution and psycho-vegetative complaints . Asanger, Heidelberg 1995.