New Delhi: An old saying goes that the best time to plant trees was 20 years ago and the next best time is today. Throughout history, trees have been intertwined with humans with survival and health. Early humans relied heavily on trees for their basic survival such as food, shelter and medicines. Trees are also known for their medicinal and healing properties and many ancient societies used different types of trees for treatment purposes which continues to be a part of the modern culture today.
The health benefits of trees are multifaceted, yet the increasing urbanisation and deforestation have threatened the natural assets. With time, climate change and deforestation have impacted the environment to a major extent hence World Environment Day is the best occasion to discuss how fewer trees have changed our lives and affected our health to a larger extent. Amid this change and shift in environmental factors, one question strikes our mind were we healthier when there were more trees?
Dr Govind Desai, Interventional Pulmonology, MBBS M.D EDARM FIP(IAB), HCG Suchirayu Hospital, Hubli told News9, “Just as trees benefit entire ecosystems by stabilising soils, providing rich habitats for wildlife, absorbing and filtering stormwater, cooling temperatures, and more, they also provide a range of benefits to human health. From medicinal trees that human societies have relied on for thousands of years for life-saving medicine to urban trees that shade city dwellers from dangerously high temperatures, the advantages of living near trees cannot be overstated.”
Trees: Our Ancient Allies in Health and Survival
Looking back on historical records, it’s clear that early humans relied on trees for their very survival — and so you could say that they are woven into the very fabric of who we are. We find nourishment in their nutrient-rich fruits, shelter in their limbs, healing in their medicinal compounds, protection as they absorb harmful pollutants, and wonder in their presence. In modern times, research has only substantiated what Indigenous people have always known: trees hold the key to our survival, both globally for the planet’s health and on an individual level through the direct health benefits they provide.
Allergies on the rise in children and adults
Dr Desai said, “A wide range of Allergic disorders in children and adults even more than before also pollution is rising owing to the increased emission of greenhouse gases and industrialisation all at the cost of deforestation. So it’s time we act! It’s now or never.”
Trees not only provide us with nutrient-rich fruits or offer medicinal advantages but they also offer a spiritual solace to us which is an integral role in human development. This calls for action to save trees and preserve them. Steps like urban planning should prioritise green spaces and policies must be implemented to safeguard the environment.
Just as trees benefit entire ecosystems by stabilising soils, providing rich habitats for wildlife, absorbing and filtering stormwater, cooling temperatures, and more, they also provide a range of benefits to human health. On World Environment Day expert shares impact of deforestation on health Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
