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Nature can be tranquil, and very non threatening at times. Over the centuries, many people have found soothing effects from nature. Physicians early on discovered that nature had a therapeutic effect. Not by the use of plants for medicinal purposes, but for the tranquility one can experience from being in nature. The first record of therapy by use of nature occurred in ancient Egypt. Court physicians would prescribe walks in the royal gardens to mentally disturbed royalty. Even during the time of Jesus Christ, many people thought that gardens had healing powers. Jesus found solace in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to his death. The late 1700's and early 1800's brought about a people-plant connection as an acceptable approach to treatment of certain types of illness. People began to realize the healing results of mentally ill patients who began working with plants, growing and taking care of them. Doctors began to notice elderly people become absorbed in gardening. Doctors began to realize that horticulture as a therapy could be an extremely effective treatment for the elderly, physical and mentally handicapped.
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