The long-term evolution of human beings in nature has resulted in close association with natural environments and consequently, their separation from nature due to urban life style, caused psychological disorders that is known as lifestyle diseases. Horticulture therapy (HT) is a purposeful process of horticultural activities that improves body, mind and soul of individuals. The history of horticulture therapy dates back to the gardens of ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Roma, as these gardens were designed to stimulate all five human senses. Horticulture therapy which is also known as therapeutic horticulture (TH) or social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) is beneficial for all ages and during the whole human life time, although it is specifically helpful for some groups of society suffering from psychological disorders including, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical disability and mental disability. Horticulture therapy services could also be effectively provided for some other important groups of society such as elderly, children, students, military veterans, prisoners and offenders. Therapeutic horticulture could be practiced as indoor or outdoor and active or inactive activities by individuals. Horticulture activities in the framework of horticulture therapy, improve mental health and is practiced in many countries of the world but Japan, South Korea and China are the leading countries in Asia. The involvement of ministries, organizations, departments and executive agencies is one of the most effective approaches to institutionalize horticulture therapy services in Iran. Therefore, ministry of education, ministry of science, research and technology and ministry of health and medical education could have a key role in materialization of horticulture therapy programs. Moreover, municipalities play a crucial role as they can follow healing gardens and healing landscape as a basis for designs. Organizing workshop to increase the information and awareness of citizens is another alternative to propagate horticulture therapy in society. On the other hand, lack of knowledge and the priorities of society for traditional medical treatments are the challenges for horticulture therapy. The mechanism of horticulture activities as horticulture therapy or therapeutic horticulture, has roots in nature therapy. In this article, the literature of horticulture therapy and its strategies with the reported outcomes are reviewed focusing on some groups of society.
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