According to Roger Ulrich, Professor and Director of Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, “A growing body of research is giving credibility to the widely held belief that nature can improve health.” In a recent study findings indicated that individuals recovered significantly faster and more completely from stress when they were exposed to natural settings as opposed to urban environments.

From 1940-1999, Brevard County experienced a population increase of 2786 percent. Brevard County planners and residents are concerned with creating healthy environments for people to live in. One resource that is available now but rapidly decreasing is natural plant communities. An estimated 70% reduction in scrub habitat occurred on the Brevard County mainland during this same time period. Similar rates of habitat destruction occurred for other habitats.

There are healing plants being destroyed in Brevard County plant habitats. In addition to the plants with medicinal uses, the loss of the natural environments themselves can potentially have a negative impact on human health and wellness. Planners and the general public need information about these environments so that educated decisions can be made regarding future development in this rapidly growing county.

The use of plants for healing is historically and culturally significant. Using medicinal plants is a time honored proven method of providing for an individual’s wellness. It also has a web-like ripple effect that benefits, not only human health, but the health of the larger world environment.

Larry Dossey brilliantly pulled it all together when he stated “The most counterproductive approach would be to regard green medicine in a purely pragmatic, utilitarian way, to consider herbs as merely the latest tricks in our black bag: Echinacea as the new penicillin, for example. Green medicine is not always “for” something. It is sacred ground and must be approached with respect and reverence.” People don’t often think of green environments in such a valuable light. Ulrich states, “Unfortunately, intuitive arguments in favor of plants usually make little impression on financially pressed local or state governments or on developers concerned with the bottom line.”

Pat Bratianu is an RN with 31 years of nursing experience and a PhD in Natural Heath. She is the owner of Simply Health, a consulting herbal and educational practice. Pat specializes in women who have breast cancer or want to prevent breast cancer. For more information call 321-727-7273, email [email protected] or visit www.simplyhealthdoc.com.