Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

Image by amoceptum

Prozac may not be the only way to get rid of your serious blues. Soil microbes have been found to have similar effects on the brain and are without side effects and chemical dependency potential. Learn how to harness the natural antidepressant in soil and make yourself happier and healthier. Read on to see how dirt makes you happy.

Natural remedies have been around for untold centuries. These natural remedies included cures for almost any physical ailment as well as mental and emotional afflictions. Ancient healers may not have known why something worked but simply that it did. Modern scientists have unraveled the why of many medicinal plants and practices but only recently are they finding remedies that were previously unknown and yet, still a part of the natural life cycle. Soil microbes and human health now have a positive link which has been studied and found to be verifiable.

Soil Microbes and Human Health

Did you know that there’s a natural antidepressant in soil? It’s true. Mycobacterium vaccae is the substance under study and has indeed been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress.

Lack of serotonin has been linked to depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar problems. The bacterium appears to be a natural antidepressant in soil and has no adverse health effects. These antidepressant microbes in soil may be as easy to use as just playing in the dirt. Most avid gardeners will tell you that their landscape is their “happy place” and the actual physical act of gardening is a stress reducer and mood lifter. The fact that there is some science behind it adds additional credibility to these garden addicts’ claims. The presence of a soil bacteria antidepressant is not a surprise to many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves. Backing it up with science is fascinating, but not shocking, to the happy gardener. Mycobacterium antidepressant microbes in soil are also being investigated for improving cognitive function, Crohn’s disease and even rheumatoid arthritis.

How Dirt Makes You Happy

Antidepressant microbes in soil cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. The bacterium was tested both by injection and ingestion on rats, and the results were increased cognitive ability, lower stress and better concentration on tasks than a control group. Gardeners inhale the bacteria, have topical contact with it and get it into their bloodstreams when there is a cut or other pathway for infection. The natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can be felt for up to 3 weeks if the experiments with rats are any indication.

So get out and play in the dirt and improve your mood and your life.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/antidepressant-microbes-soil.htm

FULL POST FOUND HERE.

Resources:

“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.
http://www.sage.edu/newsevents/news/?story_id=240785
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/images/gg607.pdf (pg 12)
Mind & Brain/Depression and Happiness – Raw Data “Is Dirt the New Prozac?” by Josie Glausiusz, Discover Magazine, July 2007 Issue. http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac

DNA in the Honey = Best Bees Plants

Ellen Wells reported on this in her Buzz newsletter (more info on article at the bottom):

Two people told me the best thing they saw at MANTS a few weeks ago was the HoneyDNA-certified pollinator plant tag from Best Bees, a Boston-based business. I’ve known about Best Bees for a while, having seen them at New England Grows several years ago and being attracted to their artist-designed, hand-painted beehives. (They also do installations, maintenance and harvesting at residential and commercial properties in a number of locations nationwide. Great idea for this product in particular, don’t you think?)

The folks at Best Bees went about analyzing DNA collected from honey in nine different regions of the country to determine what plants the local bees were visiting for pollen and in what percentages. That is, these folks know which plants bees in a certain area are visiting the most. Garden retailers can help their customers looking for honeybee-friendly plants by stocking those plants their local honeybees enjoy the most and then tagging them with this tag.

I like this company because they keep taking the extra step. They could have stopped at pretty hives or installations in one part of the country. But they take the extra steps—adding services and locations and exploring ideas—not just as part of a business plan, but because these guys believe the bees need help. I can’t wait to hear about their next steps.—Ellen Wells

This article came from GreenTalks newsletters at Ball Publishing, a sustainable e-newsletter from GrowerTalks and Green Profit. Click HERE to view article on the web.

The vision all started last year while planning for underground electric, trail-side lighting, and security. Thanks to the Coshocton Foundation, Clary Gardens received a grant to cover half the costs of installing underground electric to the northern half of the garden hillside, behind the two historic homes on the property. This was completed in the spring of 2018 with enough power capable of lighting every tree with holiday lights... when the time was right.

"We were in the middle of some other initiatives at the time," stated Jandi Adams, garden director, "and we can't afford to do a project of this size all at once so we decided to start the planning for a walk-through 'winter wonderland' of sorts.

This all spurred into action this past month during our "Month of Thanks" campaign and annual fundraiser. Residents and community members began to get excited with the potential of creating another winter-season attraction here in Coshocton.

Clary Gardens received a $500 donation from a local contractor on December 1st to spend directly on lights (and extension cords) needed to get a good start on lighting in the gardens. With a small staff almost done for the season, we had to look for volunteers to help us put up the lights - and we didn't have to look far! We were contacted by the M.A.C.E. Club, a fraternal organization at Muskingum University, about doing a service project at the gardens that would impact the community. This was our opportunity! And with the absolutely beautiful weather we had yesterday, Sunday, December 2, 2018, we were able to take advantage of extra hands to erect a fascinating display covering the children's garden with twinkling lights - an area that before this spring, had no electric!

"There are so many generous people and organizations in and around our community. Many were interested in furthering the initiative that we are generally calling, 'Light the Night' at this time. We would love to open this opportunity up to local organizations and individuals that would like to make a direct impact in making the gardens a winter destination for Coshocton. If you or someone you know might be interested in donating exterior lights, extension cords, or funds for us to purchase what is needed, please call Clary Gardens at 740-622-6524 or email at events@clarygardens.org.

*Support this initiative directly via PayPal on our website (under the 'Support' -> 'Donations' tab) or CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Feel free to make a notation that your donation is for the "Light the Night" fundraising campaign.

**Pictured are around 18 members of the M.A.C.E. Club from Muskingum University who dedicated their morning to assisting the gardens with the "LIGHT THE NIGHT" project.

CLARY GARDENS PLANS "HOLIDAY" BUS TRIP

Join friends and family of Clary Gardens on Thursday, December 13, 2018, for a bus trip to Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio, for a guided-Manor tour and famous Deck The Hall event - One of Ohio’s largest and most spectacular holiday traditions!

Guests will be leaving Clary Gardens (bottom parking lot) at 1pm and will arrive back to the gardens between 8:30 and 9:00pm.

Stan Hywet is illuminated inside and out with over ONE MILLION lights with a “Winter Wonderland” theme. The estate features a historic 65-room Tudor Revival Manor, the Gothic Revival Conservatory, the Gate Lodge and 70 acres of artistically landscaped grounds and formal gardens.

We’ll spend the first hour (3-4pm) on a guided-tour of the Manor House, the former estate of F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Our group will learn what life was like when the Seiberling family called this estate “home.”

After the Manor guided tour, we’ll get to experience the famous self-guided “Deck The Hall” event with an outdoor light show, courtyard tree lighting, live music in the Manor House, treats for purchase around the cozy warming courtyard fire, the 20ft poinsettia tree in the tropical Corbin Conservatory, and/or visit Molly’s (gift) shop or Molly’s Café. All bus riders can spend their time after the guided tour, as they please, experiencing any of the areas of the estate they prefer (self-guided).

The cost of the bus trip is $40 per person which includes transportation and combo-ticket admission to both the guided-Manor tour and Deck the Hall events. Registration must be paid to Clary Gardens in full by Wednesday, December 5, 2018 - But don't wait this long to RSVP, seats are filling quickly!

Trip guests should dress for the weather including appropriate footwear for outdoor walking. Please call or email Clary Gardens with questions: (740)622-6524 or events@clarygardens.org.