The Healing Power of Water Features
Did you know there's a scientific reason why a shower feels so refreshing? It's the same reason why people flock to lakes, oceans, and waterfalls for vacations. Falling water from fountains, waterfalls, and even your morning shower, releases negative ions into the surrounding atmosphere. And these ions have a profound effect on our physical well-being.
When you’re in an environment where the concentration of negative ions is greater than positive ions it will have an effect on your body and mind. There's an increase in blood flow and oxygen content to your cells; it lowers blood pressure and stabilizes respiration creating a calming effect. Increased oxygen content in your blood is critical for all metabolic functions which in turn effects your mood.
It's no secret that water features provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today's busy world. The therapeutic effects of water in the landscape help to lower blood pressure and improve physical and mental health.
Whether you're dealing with stress or wish to improve your overall health, consider adding a pond, waterfall, or fountain to your outdoor living space. Experts agree it can be extremely therapeutic!
"Hospital patients who have a view of natural landscapes recover faster from surgery and require less pain medication. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure, and other measures return to normal levels more quickly when people view natural rather than urban landscapes after a stressful experience."The Sustainable Sites Initiative. Standards and Guidelines: Preliminary Report. November 1, 2007
"Our patients and their families find peace and tranquility when visiting our beautiful water features. We receive a great deal of positive feedback on the addition of the water gardens to our facility. Even the staff and board members have found the water features to be beneficial for relieving stress and improving their daily outlook."Nancy Vance, Executive Director, Living Well Cancer Resource Center
"As landscape architects and experts in healing garden design, we specify water features in most of our projects. We've had great success with using the Aquascape product line. Their natural pond systems fit perfectly into our design solutions and offer our clients a sustainable solution that adds a positive distraction to the healthcare environment. We also design water features in unusual locations like roof decks. Aquascape's sculptural water displays add a nice balance to the healing garden aesthetic."Geoff Roehll, Senior Vice President, Hitchcock Designs