Is the land an antidepressant?
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There are many colored claims there when it comes to gardening, but one specifically made the rounds recently: “The land is an antidepressant.”
According to this idea, selected by countless social media posts, Mycobacteriuium fows– A microbe naturally found on the ground – can enhance your condition. All that needs to be done to experience this benefit get your hands to contact the soil. Bacteria are said to be absorbed by your skin or inhaled from the wind, and they can easily work in the Chemistry of the brain. But all this is so good to be true?
While claims may have originally as a small outlandish, there is a range of investigative studies in this microbe in different conditions, from ekzema UNTO CANCER. In fact, M. cattle first detached by land samples from Uganda to scientists looking to find a harmless cousin Mycobacterium tuberculosis to be used as a form of immunwhere.
The interests of researchers in potential applications for assistance with depression are dug when people with lung cancer are treated with bacteria Reported fixes Of their quality of life as an unexpected, but very acceptable, effect. And so far, this effects of mood progress as Replied to a number of Well designed study. Cue an avalanche of social media memes.
Now here is downside: All studies clearly underlined to test this hypothesis made by mice, not people. It is important, because the odds of animal experiments are, in general, people are rarely repeated. For example, one review of 76 animals Studies know that Only 37 percent are repeated by human studies.
On top of it, rats used in M. cattle Studies are men from a particular inbred strain. If you are thinking if researchers have managed bacteria by filling air in the cages using it or by applying it directly to the skin, well, nor does it happen. All studies I have found involving blood bacteria in rats or Mix it with their food.
As a person who is impressed with growing evidence that suggest spending time in green space can improve your mental benefitI can’t wait to see what further research M. cattle made. However, despite the conviction with which this claim is put forward all over the internet, right now it is only true to say that “soil is an antidepressant” if you are a male mouse who has been injected with a purified form of a bacterium found in it – and since you’re reading this, I assume you aren’t.
James Wong is a botanist and writer in science, with a particular interest in food plants, caution and the environment. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, he shared his little flat with more than 500 houseplants. You can follow him on X and Instagram @botanygeek
For other visiting projects Newscientist.com/maker
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