Madera y salud 2Wood and health go hand in hand. It has been proven that people who live or work in spaces with exposed wood enjoy better health, both physically and mentally. In fact, some hospitals have found that its psychological impact helps in patients’ recovery. Even in some senior residences, the use of wood panels in ceilings and walls is said to improve interactions among the elderly and slow down their memory issues.

These are the 5 indisputable health benefits of using wood in the construction and decoration of homes, leisure spaces and workplaces:

 

  • Reduces stress: In 2010, a study at the University of British Columbia showed that wood lowered activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), responsible for physiological stress responses in humans. More wood means lower stress.

 

  • Improves airways: Wood is hygroscopic, i.e. it is able to absorb moisture from the environment, which reduces the presence of associated microbes and improves respiration.

 

  • Lowers blood pressure: A study by the Japan Forestry Research Institute claims that exposure to wood panels significantly lowers blood pressure, but if the panels are made of steel, blood pressure rises.

 

  • Provides balance: Wood connects us with nature and brings harmony, tranquillity and the balance of body and mind with nature.

 

  • Learning aid: It improves acoustics, maintains temperature and lowers stress. All this improves attention and focus, and enhances creativity.

 

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The benefits of acoustic conditioning in hospitals