Healing in horticulture: How it helps veterans heal from PTSD

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Healing in horticulture therapy is a phrase not many veterans are familiar with but the science behind it proves it’s effectiveness.

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Derrick Stowell works as the horticultural therapy administrator at the University of Tennessee Gardens. He said veterans are prime candidates for this type of therapy.

One UT research project evaluated a group of veterans and the impact of UT’s horticultural therapy program on them before and after participating.

“It helped reduce their stress, anxiety and depression,” Stowell said.

Stowell also said it doesn’t take months to feel the effects. He said program participants are found to have reduced cortisol levels — a marker of stress — within the first 30 minutes to an hour of therapy.

He said the classes are also beneficial to veterans because it gives them a sense of community.

“We do a lot of group projects,” Stowell said. “People that are having similar conditions or similar challenges come together and can talk about the same things and realize they’re not the only person dealing with this.”

It’s also a form of physical therapy, which Stowell said some veterans may feel is missing when enrolled in traditional therapy.

“It doesn’t completely replace the standard treatment working with a psychiatrist or psychologist, but it enhances their treatment outcomes because of the connections that they have,” Stowell said.

UT offers a volunteer-based Master Gardener program for those interested in getting involved. You can check it out here.