The Park Prescription

One doctor has begun advising her patients to simply take a walk in the park to improve their overall health. And as she describes in this article, she's not alone.

1 minute read

November 18, 2009, 11:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


Physician Daphne Miller writes about how she and other doctors are finding improved health benefits for their patients by simply advising increased outdoor physical activity.

"I have started to make formal "park prescriptions." The prescribing instructions are considerably more detailed than ones you might get with a medication; they include the location of a local green space, the name of a specific trail and, when possible, exact mileage.

It turns out I am not alone. I've begun hearing about doctors around the country who are medicating their patients with nature in order to prevent (or treat) health problems ranging from heart disease to attention deficit disorder."

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 in The Washington Post

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