Can Gardening Lower Cortisol in Surgeons?

Scalpels by day, shovels by night.

It might sound like a bizarre juxtaposition—precise, high-stakes surgical work paired with the slow, earthy rhythms of gardening. But for a growing number of surgeons, getting their hands in the soil is just as important as getting them in gloves. And the reason may be rooted in science.

Can gardening actually lower cortisol levels in surgeons?

As burnout rates climb and surgical stress takes a toll on physical and mental health, healthcare professionals are seeking unconventional but evidence-backed solutions. Gardening—once seen as a retirement hobby—is emerging as a powerful form of green therapy. And for surgeons, who spend hours in sterile, high-pressure environments, it may offer a rare and restorative antidote.

Let’s dig into how gardening may regulate stress hormones, improve mental clarity, and provide a quiet counterbalance to life in the operating room.

1. The Surgeon’s Cortisol Problem: High Stakes, High Stress
Cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” is essential for acute focus and survival. But chronically elevated cortisol can lead to:

• Insomnia and fatigue
  
  
• Weakened immunity
  
  
• Anxiety and depression
  
  
• Impaired memory and concentration
  
  
• Cardiovascular strain
  
  
• Weight gain and glucose dysregulation
  

Surgeons are particularly vulnerable due to:

• Long, irregular hours
  
  
• Life-or-death decision-making
  
  
• Minimal room for error
  
  
• Physical exhaustion
  
  
• Constant pressure to perform
  
  
• Emotional fallout from complications or loss
  

Over time, this can lead to chronic cortisol elevation—a physiological marker of stress with very real health consequences.

2. Why Gardening? The Science of Green Therapy
Gardening isn’t just a leisure activity—it’s a form of therapy backed by neuroscience and endocrinology.

A. Exposure to Nature Lowers Cortisol
Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of being in a natural environment can significantly reduce cortisol levels. Gardening amplifies this effect by combining:

• Sunlight exposure
  
  
• Physical activity
  
  
• Tactile engagement with soil and plants
  
  
• Sensory stimulation (smell, color, sound)
  

B. “Attention Restoration Theory”
Gardening shifts focus from technical, problem-solving thought (required in surgery) to soft fascination—allowing the prefrontal cortex to rest and mental fatigue to recover.

C. Mycobacterium vaccae and Mental Health
Soil contains beneficial bacteria like Mycobacterium vaccae, which is shown to increase serotonin production and reduce anxiety in animal models—possibly influencing human mood as well.

D. Flow State and Mindfulness
Planting, pruning, and weeding induce a “flow” state—similar to meditation. This anchors the mind in the present, disrupting rumination and hyperarousal, both of which fuel cortisol.

3. What the Research Says: Can Gardening Really Help Surgeons?
While direct studies on gardening and cortisol in surgeons are limited, evidence from adjacent fields is compelling.

A. A 2011 Dutch study found that gardening after a stressful task reduced cortisol significantly more than indoor reading.
B. Hospital wellness programs incorporating horticultural therapy report improved mood, sleep, and job satisfaction among participants—including healthcare workers.
C. Studies on burnout in physicians correlate time spent in nature with reduced stress and better resilience—key markers of lower cortisol activity.
While surgeons are a unique population, their high cognitive demand and limited recovery time may make them even more responsive to restorative practices like gardening.

4. The Mental Health Benefits Beyond Cortisol
Lowering cortisol is just the beginning.

Gardening also offers surgeons:

• Emotional decompression after intense cases
  
  
• Tangible results in contrast to clinical ambiguity
  
  
• A sense of control and nurturing, in contrast to surgical chaos
  
  
• Reconnection with life, especially after witnessing death
  
  
• A space for nonverbal processing of trauma and stress
  

“In the OR, everything is sterile. In the garden, it’s beautifully messy. That balance saves me,” says one trauma surgeon turned backyard grower.

5. The Symbolism: Growth, Loss, and Renewal
Gardening is rich in metaphor. For surgeons who:

• Experience loss
  
  
• Battle with imperfection
  
  
• Feel the weight of responsibility
  

Tending to life in a garden can offer a form of healing and meaning-making.

Each sprout reminds them that:

• Not everything must be controlled
  
  
• Death feeds new life
  
  
• There’s beauty in imperfection
  

This symbolic restoration has emotional value—especially for those trained to fix what’s broken, but rarely process what can’t be saved.

6. Surgeon Stories: When Scrubs Meet Soil
Dr. L, a vascular surgeon:
“I started growing tomatoes during the pandemic. Now I swear it’s what kept me from burning out completely.”

Dr. R, an orthopedic resident:
“My rooftop garden became my post-call ritual. Watering plants was the only time no one needed me.”

Dr. M, a retired neurosurgeon:
“I used to hold brains. Now I hold soil. Both demand care. But one gives something back with every season.”

Surgeons often struggle with emotional processing. Gardening offers a safe, non-verbal language to reflect and recover.

7. Practical Considerations: How Can Busy Surgeons Start Gardening?
No need for a farmhouse or green thumb.

Start Small:

• Potted herbs on a windowsill
  
  
• Container gardens on balconies
  
  
• Community garden plots for urban dwellers
  
  
• Indoor plants for call rooms or offices
  

Build It Into Routine:

• Post-shift watering
  
  
• Weekly planting or harvesting rituals
  
  
• 10-minute “mindful weeding” sessions
  

Involve the Team:

• Create surgical department gardens
  
  
• Include horticulture in wellness initiatives
  
  
• Encourage group garden days post-call
  

It’s not about farming—it’s about reconnecting with something life-giving and slow, in contrast to surgical urgency.

8. Institutional Support: Should Hospitals Encourage Green Space for Surgeons?
Yes—and they’re starting to.

Hospitals can:

• Create healing gardens accessible to staff
  
  
• Offer horticultural therapy programs
  
  
• Integrate gardening into residency wellness curricula
  
  
• Allow space for staff-grown produce or flowers
  

Incorporating greenery is not frivolous—it’s an investment in resilience and retention.

In a world where surgeon burnout is rising and retirement is accelerating, planting seeds may be more sustainable than offering pizza in the break room.

9. A Holistic Prescription: Scalpel in One Hand, Spade in the Other
Imagine if surgeon self-care protocols included:

• Sleep
  
  
• Nutrition
  
  
• Therapy
  
  
• And gardening
  

Not as a hobby, but as a legitimate cortisol-lowering, burnout-buffering, humanity-restoring intervention.

Surgeons are often told to “suck it up,” “stay sharp,” and “keep going.” But perhaps what they really need is permission to slow down, sink their hands in the dirt, and breathe.