Wooden Design’s Link to Human Health

  • By nat rosasco
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  • 16 Dec, 2015
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The positive effect nature can have on human health is well documented. Spending time outdoors can help fight disease by lowering blood pressure, boosting our immune systems, and improving our moods. It can also lower heart rate and aggression. According to a study at University of Michigan being exposed to nature can even improve brain health and the ability to focus. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has found that the average American spends 93% of his or her life indoors. Since being outdoors unfortunately isn’t always an option, bringing nature inside is a good alternative. Indoor plants have been shown to have a similar stress-reducing impact on humans. Would indoor wooden surfaces also provide the same health benefits as spending time in nature? A recent study at the University of British Columbia sought to answer this exact question, and it may change the way we create the built environment.

The study explored the relationship between wood and human health by measuring and comparing the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in test subjects.  The SNS manages physiological stress (fight or flight) responses.  When faced with a stressful situation, SNS activation occurs, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.  It allows the body to focus on the immediate threat by shutting down the ability to digest, recover, and repair.  As the study’s findings state, “When the body spends prolonged periods in an SNS activated state, health suffers both physiologically and psychologically.”
In the experiment, the subjects were placed in office environments with and without visual wood surfaces.  They were then given a math test.  The findings reveal that before, during, and after the test, the subjects in the rooms containing wood had lower SNS activation. Therefore, the findings conclude, “The application of wood visual surfaces indoors is one way to reduce stress and promote health in building occupants.”
Due to the psychological and physiological benefits of bringing nature inside, it is becoming an integral part of interior design.  The article  Impacts of Buildings on Human Health   notes that along with the greater introduction of natural light and views of the great outdoors, “The growing knowledge of the health benefits of building with visual wood surfaces is being incorporated into healthcare environments to support patient recovery, school environments to support student learning, and offices to support employee health.”
The use of wood in design also contributes to human health because it helps keep the air clean.  Wood is hypoallergenic, generating few, if any, toxic vapors and doesn’t create any dust once installed.  It’s also easy to clean to prevent particles from building up, unlike carpet and other soft surfaces.  Wood plays a part in controlling humidity levels, as well.  When humidity levels are high, wood absorbs moisture from the air, and when humidity levels are low, wood releases moisture back into the air.
Along with the environmental benefits of building with wood, which lowers our carbon footprint compared to using other building materials, we were excited to learn that choosing wood can improve our own health, along with the health of the world.  We’re eager to see more applications of wood and natural elements in the built environment.  As Buccinni stated, “Let’s try to incorporate wood where we can because I think the benefits are known by the architects as well as us.”  We have to, wholeheartedly, agree.
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