Who are you and for what partner organisation do you work?
My name is Christina Pichler. I’m a health scientist and work as researcher and project manager at the Institute of Ecomedicine at the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg in Austria.
What is your expertise related to nature-based therapy?
Our institute is dedicated to studying the efficacy of natural health resources in the prevention and curing of chronic diseases and civilization diseases, with a focus on green exercise in the Alpine countryside, climatotherapy and aerosol therapy. In this context, we also contribute to the development of evidence-based nature therapies for specific target groups like e.g. for people with allergies and asthma at the Krimml waterfalls.
Can you describe the Case Study (CS) you lead in a couple of sentences?
In CS5 we are conducting a randomized controlled clinical study on the health effects of a nature-based therapy on sedentary people with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). The latter’s emerging prevalence is a significant public health concern worldwide. More specifically, we want to find out if green exercise in combination with mindfulness training on the city mountains of Salzburg increases the quality of life and certain stress parameters of persons affected by MetS. Similar studies are also conducted in urban green areas in Padova and coastal areas in Barcelona, so we will be able to understand better how different natural environments impact human health and wellbeing.
What excites you most about the RESONATE project?
Working together in this exceptional consortium consisting of international experts to establish nature-based therapies as a cornerstone in the improvement of public health.
What is your own favourite way to engage with nature for your health and wellbeing?
I love being hiking in the mountains – your perspectives change when you are looking down from a summit.
