Dig in the Dirt if Your Down
A recent study carried out in the U.K. at Bristol University has found links between dirt exposure and improvements in people's mood and immune systems.
The writers of the study just published in the medical journal, 'Neuroscience' talked of a bacteria found in soil that lung cancer patients were exposed to. The patients were reported to have improvements to their well being. Testing of the effects of the bacteria was also carried out on mice. When the mice were exposed to the bacteria it was found that their brains produced more serotonin, a chemical in mice and human brains that increases feelings of happiness.
When serotonin levels get to low depression can become a problem. Many people suffering from depression are prescribed medication that will help boost the brains production of serotonin.
These findings have encouraged the researchers to carry out more work on the bacteria, which is called Mycobacterium, in order to see if it has the ability to act as an antidepressant by stimulating the brains production of serotonin. The head of the research team, Dr. Chris Lowry said, "These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. They also leave us wondering if we shouldn't all spend more time playing in the dirt."
The new study supports some current beliefs about to much hygiene in modern society. These beliefs think that the increase in asthma cases and people suffering allergies is because they are not getting enough exposure to different microorganisms. This lack of exposure it thought to weaken the human immune system.
The weakened immune systems could be affecting human mental health, linking the exposure to the dirt dwelling bacteria to improvements in mood.
Similar research on the relation of the immune system to serotonin and people's moods is being carried out in Canada.
In researched being carried out at the Georgetown University Medical Center it was found the serotonin moved between important immune system cells and can cause the immune system to respond. This finding appears to indicate that serotinin helps to keep the human immune system healthy.
Further research on how serotonin affects the immune system still needs to be carried out. The chief researcher on the study carried out at the Georgetown University Medical Center, Gerard Ahern said. "At this point we just don't know how these drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the normal role of serotonin in immune cell functioning."
Until further findings are uncovered, why not try doing a big of gardening next time you are feeling a bit blue.
Sources
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=506592007
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/health/article_21272625.shtml
http://www.ecanadanow.com/science/health/2007/04/02/dirt-helps-lower-depression/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6509781.stm?ls
Published by Siun Griffin
I have been a freelance writer for several years. I enjoy writing about a variety of topics, particularly the environment, animals, entertainment, and travel. However, I don't limit myself to those topics, a... View profile
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