Touch Grass, Heal Faster: Neurologist Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy’s New Book Reveals How Nature Boosts Recovery and Health
Published
Touch Grass, Heal Faster:
Neurologist Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy’s New Book
Reveals How Nature Boosts Recovery and Health
Invisible No More: Embracing Your Road to Recovery
from Long Covid and Other Complex Chronic Illnesses
By Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy
Hits Bookstores June 17 by St. Martin’s Essentials
“Invisible No More is a compassionate look
and practical guide for anyone suffering from chronic illness.”
— Ryland Engelhart, co-founder of Kiss the Ground
NEW YORK — “Touch grass” is not just Gen Z slang for “get outside and get real.” It’s also legitimate advice in the health field. As summer approaches and the days grow longer, there’s no better time to reconnect with the natural world — not just for enjoyment, but for your health.
Most know that being in nature is great for your mind, body, and soul, but it’s also good for your health and especially for those suffering from chronic illnesses. In her forthcoming debut book, Invisible No More: Embracing Your Road to Recovery from Long Covid and Other Complex Chronic Illnesses (June 17, St. Martin’s Essentials), one of them many topics that renowned neurologist and integrative physician Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy, MD, shines a light on is the powerful healing effects of being outdoors, breathing fresh air, and taking in nature.
“It is definitely worth getting outside consistently and frequently,” writes Dr. Ruhoy in Invisible No More. “Outside air is more healing than indoor air, and being outside naturally helps us be more active, too. Despite the concerns about particulate matter in the air, studies have proven that exposure to nature (as opposed to city and urban environments) allows for improved detoxification as a result of the symbiotic relationship humans have with flora [plants] and fauna [animals].”
Outdoor summer activities such as hiking, running, or water sports have myriad health benefits. But did you know that just the mere act of simply being in nature has a few surprising effects as well? “Exposure to nature has been shown to have positive effects on metabolism, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, inflammation, pain, and mental health,” writes Dr. Ruhoy.
As she explains in the book, breathing in the air outside is better for you because the flora in the natural landscape takes up the carbon dioxide we exhale and in exchange they give us oxygen back. It’s better than oxygen therapies used for some patients. Additionally, nature helps our mental health as well. “It helps us feel more connected, not only to nature but to our communities. Chronic illness leads many of us to feel isolated and disconnected, as I did after my surgery. Getting into nature combats those feelings, too,” she writes.
Drawing from both cutting-edge research, patients’ health journeys, and her personal recovery journey from a brain surgery, Dr. Ruhoy offers readers simple yet impactful ways to harness the restorative power of the great outdoors and integrate it into their daily lives this summer and beyond. Here are a few of Dr. Ruhoy’s suggestions on how to get outdoors and move more this summer…
● Go hiking.
● Take a bike ride.
● Swim in a lake.
● Play catch.
● Plant a garden.
● Go fishing.
● Hit the farmers’ market.
● Swing on the park swing set.
● Shoot hoops.
For those chronically ill, though, getting outside, let alone going for a hike or a bike ride, might be hard. The good news is, just stepping outside for some fresh air and Vitamin D from those summer rays is beneficial to your health too. Even a short walk allows for movement of your blood to the lungs, heart, muscles, joints, and brain. Doing this consistently and regularly can really boost your mental and physical health. For those who can’t do strenuous outdoor activities, Dr. Ruhoy suggests trying the following…
● Step outside your front door and breathe.
● Touch grass.
● Have a picnic.
● Watch the sunset or sunrise.
● Read a book or listen to a podcast under a tree.
● Nap in a hammock.
● Try birdwatching.
Fun Fact: Studies even show that patients recover from surgery better and with fewer complications when there are trees outside their hospital windows.
Invisible No More: Embracing Your Road to Recovery from Long Covid and Other Complex Chronic Illnesses dives into many other related topics including how toxic environments affect your health, how to integrate nutrition, supplements, and breathing exercises into your lifestyle, the importance of a good doctor-patient relationship, and more. The book, which aims to empower patients living with chronic and complex illnesses to take their health into their own hands and work with healthcare professionals to make actionable steps to improve their lives, will be available in hardcover, e-book, and audio formats on June 17 from St. Martin’s Essentials.
About Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy
Dr. Ilene Sue Ruhoy is a neurologist and environmental toxicologist who specializes in chronic and complex illness, including ME/CFS, EDS, and Long Covid. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, completed her residency in neurology at the University of Washington, and earned a PhD in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Nevada. In addition to her private practice in Seattle, WA, Dr. Ruhoy serves as a Medical Director, co-editor, and speaker on the role of connective tissue in neurological disease.
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