Why Water Features Have Healing Power
Did you know there's a scientific reason why a shower feels so refreshing? It's the same reason people flock to lakes, oceans, and waterfalls for vacations. Falling water — from fountains, waterfalls, and even your morning shower — releases negative ions into the air around you. But the deeper reason moving water feels so good goes beyond the ions themselves: our nervous systems are simply wired to settle in the presence of water and nature.
Decades of research bear this out. Studies on "blue spaces" — natural or man-made settings that prominently feature water — consistently link time spent near them to lower stress, better mental health, and a greater sense of well-being. You don't even have to be in the water; seeing it and hearing it is enough. The soft sound of a fountain and the sight of a natural landscape help quiet the mind, ease tension, and pull your attention away from the day's demands. It's the same restorative response your body reaches for on vacation — made available every day, right in your own backyard.
“Hospital patients who have a view of natural landscapes recover faster from surgery and require less pain medication. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure, and other measures return to normal levels more quickly when people view natural rather than urban landscapes after a stressful experience.”
It’s no secret that water features provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today’s busy world. Now more than ever, with a lingering pandemic on hand, we need the healing effects that water provides.
Whether you’re dealing with stress, illness, or wish to improve your overall outlook on life, consider adding a pond, waterfall, or fountain to your outdoor living space. Experts agree it can be extremely therapeutic!
“As landscape architects and experts in healing garden design, we specify water features in most of our projects. We’ve had great success with using the Aquascape product line. Their natural pond systems fit perfectly into our design solutions and offer our clients a sustainable solution that adds a positive distraction to the healthcare environment. We also design water features in unusual locations like roof decks. Aquascape sculptural water displays add a nice balance to the healing garden aesthetic.”
“Our patients and their families find peace and tranquility when visiting our beautiful water features. We receive a great deal of positive feedback on the addition of the water gardens to our facility. Even the staff and board members have found the water features to be beneficial for relieving stress and improving their daily outlook.”