Nature and wellbeing: biophilia in medicine

The third lecture of the 2025 Culture and Health course – Doctors and Social Prescribing. Healing through sport, nature, culture and volunteering – will take place on Monday, October 27, from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m., at the Aula Polivalente, East Campus, Lugano.

Nature therapy, which includes horticulture therapy, forest bathing and prescribed ecological activities, will be presented by Enzo Grossi, who will trace the history of this discipline and the scientific findings of in-depth clinical trials. At the basis of these practices is the biophilia hypothesis, according to which human beings have an innate tendency to connect with nature. In fact, natural environments aid concentration, alleviate stress and help us to recover from mental health issues. Nature therapy includes structured activities that fall under the umbrella of social prescribing, such as horticulture, gardening, tree planting, environmental conservation programmes and wilderness therapy in remote locations. In the role of discussant, Qing Li, Professor and President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, will illustrate the biological and psychological mechanisms that underpin the benefits of these practices and that of Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese art of “forest bathing”.

Full programme: www.culturaesalute.ch – IBSA Foundation