Changes in Heart Rate Variability and Effects on POMS by Whether or Not Soil Observation Was Performed

Kazuyo Hanyu, Kenji Tamura, Hidetoshi Mori

Biosphere Resource Science and Technology Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Biosphere Resource Science and Technology Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan;.
Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Technology and Science, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan..

DOI: 10.4236/ojss.2014.41005                

Abstract

Introduction: The effects of performing soil observation on autonomic nerve function (ANS) and the profile of mood states (POMS) particularly for upsurge of sentiment were studied table. Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A with soil observation, and Group B without it. Soil observation was performed by smelling soil, touching the soil and other ways. Evaluation was made using heart rate change variability, POMS and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Group A showed an increase in high frequency (HF) and the LF (low frequency)/HF ratio and a decrease in heart rate, leading to activating the functions of the parasympathetic nervous system. VAS values for “not comforted at all” indicated that the scale was lower in Group A than in Group B. In POMS, a factor of “vigor” became lower in Group B than in Group A. Discussion: It was suggested that soil observation was effective in bringing people to a state of physiological and mental relaxation and reducing stress because it raised the degree of being comforted, increased HF, decreased the heart rate and activated the parasympathetic nervous system. Conclusions: By performing soil observation, the heart rate decreased, HF increased and an upsurge sentiment became normalized.

Keywords

Soil Observation; Heart Rate Variability; Autonomic Nerve Function; Profile of Mood States (POMS); Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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