A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2006, found that mental health problems were lower in rural areas. This could be due to Mycobacterium vaccae, a ‘happy bug’ found in garden soil. In rural areas, the “friendly” bacteria is breathed in through dust, & found on homegrown vegetables.
Dr Chris Lowry has carried out research at Bristol which indicated that soil may help depression (The paper: Lowry CA, et al., Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical serotonergic system: Potential role in regulation of emotional behavior, Neuroscience (2007), doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.067)
Dr Lowry, said: “We believe that prolonged exposure to this bacteria from childhood can have a beneficial effect.
“This research also leaves us wondering if we shouldn’t all spend more time playing in the dirt.”
It is thought that the bug helps the brain to create serotonin, which is a mood enhancer. This chemical is often absent or low in patients suffering depression.
Working in the vegetable garden and eating home-grown vegetables could well have the added benefit of cheering the family up, thanks to the Mycobacterium vaccae which is present in garden soil!
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