Nature — The Most Powerful Medicine of Our Time

What if our most potent medicine isn’t found in a pill or a surgical intervention—but rather in the soil beneath our feet, the air we breathe, and the trees we glimpse through our windows?

Bill Frist, a heart and lung transplant surgeon, healthcare entrepreneur, and policy advisor, reached a radical conclusion after years of medical practice: human health and planetary health are two sides of the same coin. Until recently, these issues were treated as separate discourses. But reality demands a shift in thinking—environmental protection and climate change are no longer just ecological problems; they have evolved into growing health crises that harm people every single second.

One of Frist’s deepest lessons didn’t come from a medical textbook—it came from a fungus found in soil. This natural substance—Norwegian cyclosporine—revolutionized the future of transplantation and enabled successful lung transplants. It’s a vivid reminder that nature is not only the foundation of life but also its most ancient and remarkably effective healer. Nature is medicine.

Now, as the planet faces the peak of the climate crisis, this lesson holds even greater urgency. The year 2024 was the hottest in recorded human history, triggering respiratory complications, cardiovascular issues, and a surge in infectious diseases. Adding to this are mental health challenges caused by environmental degradation—depression, eco-anxiety, and trauma, especially among young people.

Research has clearly shown that exposure to green spaces reduces stress hormones, stabilizes blood pressure, and improves overall health. These aren’t just subjective feelings; they are scientifically proven facts. Climate change also damages food systems, reducing crop yields, causing food insecurity, and directly threatening global health.

Against this backdrop, Frist sees a great responsibility falling on the shoulders of healthcare workers. Doctors and nurses are among society’s most trusted voices, and they can serve as the bridge connecting human health with planetary preservation. Frist and his wife Tracy founded a special scholarship at Meharry Medical College to equip future physicians with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle climate change, infectious diseases, mental health, nutrition, and infrastructure challenges.

Importantly, environmental initiatives are already showing direct benefits to human health. A study in Kentucky revealed that people living near trees had significantly lower rates of heart disease. The same is true for a farming project led by Frist’s wife—where reforestation, soil revitalization, and water conservation support not just ecosystems, but the human body as well.

Today, belief isn’t necessary—facts are. Caring for nature truly heals the human body. This isn’t idealism; it’s backed by rigorous science, practical experience, and data-driven policy. The Nature Conservancy’s Planetary and Human Health Initiative aims to measure the impact of forest restoration, sustainable agriculture, and wetland protection on public health. These efforts offer solid proof for policymakers, businesses, and communities to act.

Frist’s core message is this: if we want real change, healthcare must begin treating the planet as its patient. Diagnosis, treatment planning, and clear communication with the public must become integral to modern medical practice.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about saving the planet—it’s about saving our children, our lungs, our memories, our joy, and our lives. And the prescription for healing is already in our hands:

Protect nature. Invest in nature. Because nature is medicine.

Based on materials from Forbes magazine.