What is Horticultural Therapy for Eating Disorders?

According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, horticultural therapy [1] refers to involvement in horticultural (i.e., related to the art or practice of garden cultivation and management) activities in order to attain specific objectives within a treatment or rehabilitation setting.. It is an active process in which the process itself acts as the therapy, instead of the end result.

Specific to the treatment of eating disorders, horticultural therapy offers patients an opportunity to connect with the earth as a source of food and nutrition and re-explore one’s relationship with food and eating. Patients in our residential treatment program at ‘Ai Pono get to plant, care for, cook with, and consume various herbs, fruits, and vegetables- getting to play a more  active role in nourishing themselves and their community. 

‘Ai Pono Hawaii is a trusted eating disorder rehab center in Maui and one of the few eating disorder treatment  programs to offer  horticultural therapy for eating disorders. Our team of skilled and experienced therapists guide patients in “reaping” the many benefits of horticultural therapy for eating disorders and other co-morbid or associated conditions.

Why Is Horticultural Therapy For Eating Disorders Helpful?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association [2], approximately 10 million men and 20 million women in America alone will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life. Worldwide, approximately more than 3.3 million healthy life years are being lost every year because of ED. The Mayo Clinic warns that eating disorders can cause a variety of complications, including some that are fatal. In principle, the longer the ED lasts or the more severe it is, the more likely it is for the patient to suffer from complications such as malnutrition, anxiety, depression, social and relationship troubles, issues in school or work, or even suicidal thoughts or behavior

Fortunately, a variety of evidence-based therapies and treatment programs have been developed and employed throughout the past decades in different settings to help ED patients with their recovery. Horticultural therapy has more recently emerged as an effective complementary therapy for individuals struggling with disordered eating or eating disorders and its benefits are multifold. 

Research has shown that gardening and caring for plants bring numerous benefits to one’s health. This is why horticultural therapy for eating disorders has been included more and more in treatment programs for ED and other mental health disorders.

Here are some of the psychological benefits of horticultural therapy (according to the American Horticultural Therapy Association):

• Lowers anxiety and stress levels

• Enhances relaxation and calmness

• Improves sense of control

• Boosts self-esteem

• Improves sense of pride and accomplishment

What Does Horticultural Therapy For Eating Disorders Involve?

Horticultural therapy has been employed by people for ages and the therapeutic effects of garden environments being recorded since ancient times. In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush — who was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and regarded as the "Father of American Psychiatry" — became the first person to describe the positive effects that working in the garden had on people who were suffering from a mental illness.

During the 1940s and 1950s, the rehabilitation of war veterans greatly increased acceptance of this form of therapy. Today, horticultural therapy for eating disorders (and other mental disorders) has become known as an effective therapeutic modality that’s utilized in various rehabilitative, vocational, and community settings.

Horticultural therapy for eating disorders is used to help patients gain new skills or recover lost or forgotten ones. It also helps boost cognitive abilities, memory, language skills, task initiation, and even socialization.

Horticultural therapy is usually classified as a complementary medicine or therapy and employed along with orthodox medicine or conventional therapies. Aside from using horticultural therapy for eating disorders, it’s also used to treat patients with cancer, fertility problems, stress-related diseases, mild depression, anxiety, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis (ME), arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tinnitus, and more.

Some people assume that simply doing gardening work at home is already considered as horticultural therapy. However, although gardening by itself brings a number of benefits to a person’s health and wellbeing, horticultural therapy entails having therapeutic objectives, ideally guided by a specialist in this field.

‘Ai Pono’s Horticultural Therapy For Eating Disorders

Horticultural therapy for eating disorders is a component of ‘Ai Pono Hawaii’s holistic treatment program for ED patients. As one of the most trusted eating disorder treatment centers  in the world, we have over three decades of experience in treating Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Anorexia Nervosa, and other eating and feeding disorders. We’ve also provided effective treatment to patients who struggled with Laxative Abuse, Body Dysmorphia, Body Image Distortion, and Night Eating Syndrome, among other related conditions.

In our center, we recognize that eating disorders result from the complex interplay of a person’s psychological, nutritional, emotional, and biochemical factors. We believe that people who suffer from ED are extremely sensitive and intuitive, but unluckily developed an unsound relationship with food in order to deal with the challenges that come with life. That’s why we begin by helping our patients recognize and embrace the adaptive advantage of their ED, which helps promote their recovery as they develop life skills that will help them say goodbye to their eating disorder.

Our treatment center for eating disorders offers three types of programs: residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care. We conduct individual,  group sessions, and family therapy depending on each patient’s unique treatment plan and level of care.

Here are some reasons why you should consider exploring horticultural therapy for your eating disorder at ‘Ai Pono Hawaii:

Access The Power of Horticultural Therapy For Eating Disorders. Book a call with us today to know more about how our rehab center can help speed up your recovery from your eating disorder.

Sources:

[1] https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions

[2] https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-are-eating-disorders