At its core, this initiative focuses on overcoming stress through relaxation and reconnecting with Sweden’s natural beauty. To make it official, a doctor must prescribe a treatment that uses Sweden as a complementary or alternative approach to conventional care.
Healing Through Sweden
The concept of doctor-prescribed healing journeys, developed by Visit Sweden, is based on extensive scientific research. It revolves around three main themes: nature, culture, and social purpose — meaning connection to nonmedical activities and community groups that support well-being. All three encourage people to enjoy the best Sweden has to offer.
Leading this public health model is Professor Yvonne Forssell, a senior lecturer at the Karolinska Institute. On the Visit Sweden website she and her team wrote, “Sweden’s unique lifestyle, rooted in harmony and accessibility to nature and culture, makes it an ideal place for restoring the mind and body.”
Anyone interested can download a prescription for “healing through Sweden” from the Visit Sweden website, then present it to their family doctor to discuss whether a health trip to the country is advisable.
What Will Heal You?
The authors of this concept argue that connecting with nature and engaging with culture are scientifically supported ways to maintain both mental and physical health. And Sweden is an excellent place for that.
Here, for example, you can relieve stress by heading into the woods to pick wild apples or cloudberries, where the only sounds breaking the silence are birdsong. The article says cloudberries help detoxify the body, aid weight loss, and lower blood pressure.
In Sweden, you can swim in crystal-clear lakes and fall asleep under a starry sky, far from city lights and noise.
Another wonderful way to rejuvenate is to immerse yourself in the local way of life, which is steeped in harmony. A sauna followed by a dip in cold water enhances well-being and improves sleep, the Daily Mail reports.
Boost serotonin levels — the “feel-good” brain chemical — by strolling along the world’s longest art exhibition, visiting museums, or attending concerts ranging from classical music to heavy metal.
A potential side effect of this wellness journey may be an increased craving for cinnamon buns, which are exceptionally delicious in Sweden.
British Doctors Show Interest in This Initiative
Not all general practitioners may take the idea of prescribing Sweden seriously. However, in the UK there is already a list of doctors willing to issue referrals to the Scandinavian country at a patient’s request.
Moreover, a global YouGov survey found that 67 percent of healthcare professionals in the UK would recommend Sweden as a destination for improving health.
Dr. Sam Everington of London said, “Nature, social environment, and culture have restorative power, and it’s clear that Sweden has plenty of these resources.”
“I welcome Sweden’s initiative and hope it can break down institutional and organizational barriers for the benefit of patients,” he added.
Photo: Unsplash
