Gardening May Treat Sleep Disorders, Says New Study

Some results that are found in scientific studies are very strange. In a new study related to health, a unique cure for insomnia has been discovered. In the research, scientists investigated the relationship between problems related to sleeplessness and gardening, uncovering that individuals who engage in gardening are less likely to experience sleep problems. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study highlights how gardening reduces the incidence of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and sleep apnea. Previous studies have shown how various factors, including heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders, lead to poor sleep. Researchers turned their attention to possible solutions, including gardening.

The study, led by Jiang Gao, dean and distinguished professor at Fudan University, highlights gardening as a multicomponent physical activity that not only strengthens muscles but also has the lowest risk of injury.

He said, “According to the second edition of the ‘Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans’, gardening is a multicomponent physical activity that strengthens muscles and has the lowest injury risk, which is appropriate and which is recommended for older adults.”

Gao emphasised that the benefits of gardening for physical and psychological health are well recognised and said, “The gardening-sleep relationship was not revealed among the community population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out whether gardening is associated with sleep problems.”

To conduct the study, researchers analysed data from 62,098 adults from 10 different US states. A survey was conducted in which questions were asked on health behaviour, chronic diseases, and preventive measures. For this study, special modules on physical activity and sleep complaints were examined.

It turned out that people who engaged in exercise and gardening were less likely to experience sleep complaints. Specifically, gardeners were found to be 42 percent less likely to have sleep problems, while those who engaged in other forms of exercise were 33 percent less likely to experience insomnia.

This study reveals the positive impact of gardening and exercise on overall health and well-being and also suggests that it could be a simple yet effective solution to sleep-related problems.