FROM THUNDERSTORMS TO DESERT HEAT
A change in the weather is sufficient
to recreate the world and ourselves.
Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time,
The Guermantes Way (1920–21)
We are more affected by the weather than simply needing to grab an overcoat when it’s cold or search for an umbrella when it rains. In The Weather Detective (2018), Peter Wohlleben wrote that some of us have an internal barometer that responds to atmospheric pressure, which is why we experience arthritis and other sorts of pain when the pressure falls.1 This is called meteor-sensitivity or weather sensitivity, and some experts believe that this discomfort occurs when air changes from warm and dry to cold and damp, lowering the sensitivity threshold of the nervous system.
The Japanese call it tenki-tsu, weather pains.2 Jun Sato of Aichi Medical University, who researches the relationship between pain and weather and what causes it, has found that when the weather is inclement and the atmospheric pressure falls, people experience more stress. That’s because our bodies respond to the pressure by activating the autonomic nervous system, which causes blood pressure to rise and pulse to increase, leading to chronic pain (especially joint pain) as well as migraines and emotional troubles such as anxiety.
The weather even affects our posts on social media! Scientists who examined data from social media posts to see how weather related to emotion found that temperature, precipitation, humidity, and cloud cover were associated with:
• Self-expression—both positive and negative;
• An increase of positive comments when the temperature was up to 70°F (20°C), and a decline as it rose above 86°F (30°C);
• Negative comments when it was raining, especially on days when the humidity was 80% or higher, as well as on very cloudy days.3
The short version? People are happier and friendlier when the weather is good.
Sunshine
As we learned in Chapter 1, vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin. We need it to build healthy bones and teeth, and also to:
• Support the health of the immune system, brain, and nervous system;
• Regulate insulin levels and aid our management of diabetes;
• Support lung function and cardiovascular health;
• Slow the rate of cancer progression.4
The best way to get vitamin D is through exposure to unfiltered sunlight, and there are other benefits to spending time in the sun as well. Regular exposure to sunlight under a physician’s guidance:
• Helps to abate atherosclerosis, the buildup of deposits that can clog arteries and lead to coronary heart disease;5
• May be an effective means of slowing the development of obesity;6
• May prevent or diminish inflammatory diseases of the liver;7
• Can facilitate healing, from wounds to tuberculosis;8
• Can be part of a treatment for skin ailments including psoriasis, acne, and rosacea;9
• Can affect insomnia and how well we sleep (see Chapter 9).
Aim for ten to fifteen minutes at midday (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. depending on time zone), three days per week. Be sure not to overdo it, though: You can have too much of a good thing, and overexposure to sunlight can lead to maladies ranging from heat exhaustion to skin cancer.
SOLAR STORMS
Solar or geomagnetic storms occur when the sun releases a huge burst of energy into the cosmos in the form of electrons, ions, and atoms, along with the usual electromagnetic waves. The most highly charged storms can affect our wellbeing here on Earth. Research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society found that such storms may disorientate our hormonal systems and those of other mammals, affecting behavior and health.10 This disorientation may lead to anxiety, fatigue, difficulty in focusing, flu-like symptoms, and perhaps even increased psychic awareness.
It’s hard to predict solar storms, unless you have a friend at NASA, but you can visit the websites of NASA or the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for information. If you find yourself suffering from some of the symptoms and think a storm may be the cause, here are a few things you can do:
• Drink plenty of filtered water (not tap water);
• Take saltwater baths;
• Meditate and remain aware of recurring thoughts and feelings;
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol;
• Spend time in nature (we knew that one already!);
• Remind yourself that everything in the universe is made up of energy, and that conscious thought and intention can instantly alter how we think and feel;
• Temporarily disconnect from technology if possible, and from anything or anyone toxic or draining.11
It’s a real thing! Although not a defined medical condition, it’s certainly more than a subject for poets or a catalyst for students to fidget at their desks. According to Dr. Michael Terman, professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry at Columbia University, when the snow melts and the days grow longer and warmer, spring fever starts with mood swings and surges into a burst of energy that contrasts with our slower, steadier state of mind during the winter.12 It’s likely because the days are longer and we get more light, and it’s why we have a better outlook and more vitality, and may even be motivated to do some spring cleaning!
Spring fever also brings to mind the opening moments of the movie Bambi, with bunnies and deer frolicking and falling in love. Animals tend to mate in the spring so that they’ll have a rich food source for their offspring throughout summer and autumn. And it might not be just woodland creatures, either: Professor Nicolas Guéguen of the University of South Brittany, France, discovered that the women he studied tended to be a little more open to romance on sunny days. More than a fifth, or 22.4%, gave out their phone numbers on fine days, as opposed to 13.9% when the weather was cloudy.13
The coming of spring has an impact on learning, too. Children tend to be more receptive to ideas and more energetic—perhaps because sunshine increases levels of dopamine—the neurotransmitter that regulates the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. Although I think most students’ first reaction is to want to be sprung from the classroom with the coming of good weather, teachers can direct that boost in mood and enthusiasm for learning and retaining new information.14
Sunny days have their benefits, but so do rainy ones. Rain is not just good for vegetable crops or the flower garden, it is good for our minds as well. As the health writer Denise Mann puts it, “negative ions create positive vibes.”15 Negative ions are oxygen ions with an extra electron attached, and can result from changes in weather conditions, so when it rains they’re produced through water molecules, which is why they are plentiful in rainstorms, at the beach, and near waterfalls. This is one of the reasons that taking a shower or bath refreshes us and reduces fatigue. Standing outside or even just opening the window during a downpour provides us with the benefit of negative ions and increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, producing biochemical reactions that raise serotonin, improving our mood and making us more alert. Other studies report that negative ions can facilitate the treatment of PTSD, addiction, and depression.16 They may also filter out dust, easing allergies and even asthma.
THE PERFUME OF RAIN
Why is it that the smell of rain makes us feel so good? Scientists have been studying this since the 1960s, when two Australian researchers, Isabel “Joy” Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas, coined the term “petrichor,” meaning “a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground.”17 As reported in the Smithsonian Magazine, theirs and later research determined that a primary cause of this fragrance is the combination of oils discharged by some plants during dry weather. Compounds of these oils accumulate on dry rocks and soil, and when good, heavy rain comes, they mix and discharge into the air. Bear and Grenfell hypothesized that this had to do with when seeds germinated, and that plants produced them almost as a kind of birth control to prevent germination during drought, when there wouldn’t be enough water to nourish the seedlings.18
All this is fascinating, but still, why do we like the smell so much? The anthropologist Diana Young, who studies the culture of Western Australia’s Pitjantjatjara people, has noted that they connect the petrichor with the color green, perhaps indicating a primal connection between rainy season and the promise of vegetation and game and the sustenance they bring. She has named this phenomenon “cultural synesthesia,” or “the blending of different sensory experiences on a society-wide scale due to evolutionary history.”19 This linking of smell to memory brings us back to how deeply and intrinsically we’re connected to green.
Not so positive
Just as negative ions make us feel better, positive ones can make us feel worse. Think how weary you become in an airless, stuffy classroom or in a car with the windows closed. But not all fresh air has a positive effect. When wind flows through an arid area, the dust it picks up leeches the positive ions, creating what are sometimes called “witches’ winds,” “evil winds,” or “devil winds,” such as the Santa Ana in California, the foehn in the European Alps, the hamsin or khamsin in Israel, and the chinook in the Rockies. All have been known to affect people deeply, making them irritable, nasty, and mean-tempered, and this is probably because of the positive ions, according to the psychiatrist and scientist Norman E. Rosenthal.20 (Rosenthal was the first to name Seasonal Affective Disorder, which we’ll look at in the next chapter.)
These “evil” winds, which also include the sirocco of Italy, the ghibli of Libya, and the zonda of the Argentine Andes, don’t just provoke unpleasant feelings, they’ve also been associated with increased anxiety, crime, and suicide. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support this (talk to anyone in Los Angeles in the fall and you’ll get an earful about what it’s like to breathe air desiccated by the Santa Ana), but little scientific work has been done in this area, except for an often-quoted study by Willis H. Miller in 1968, correlating crime and evil winds.21 It is a subject that would bear more research.
Winter has a bad reputation, but despite the boots and the heating bills, it does have positive effects. The longer nights and the fact that our mobility is limited by ice and snow allow us to rest more and sleep for longer. Being stuck indoors and watching snow fall has been described by some as a meditative or contemplative experience. Even without the cardio workout of shoveling, snow brings health benefits that help us to weather the dark days. Exposing the body to cold temperatures (cryotherapy) can raise our levels of norepinephrine, a chemical in the nervous system that may play a role in lessening pain.22
In Russian and Scandinavian countries, it is quite common to see babies napping outdoors in their strollers, even when the weather is very cold. Research by Marjo Tourula of the University of Finland found that leaving infants (carefully bundled in warm clothing) outside to sleep in really cold weather not only promotes better sleep, but also increases the length of the nap. The parents she interviewed believed that napping in the fresh air promoted health in their infants, helping them to grow hearty and develop resistance to disease, especially colds.23 Parents keep an eye on their babies and do not let them get overchilled, and in Sweden they subscribe to the saying, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.”
Hot weather isn’t all bad, either. Spending time in the desert or other hot, dry places can be a way to get a rich dose of sunshine and can be of benefit to both muscles and lungs. Desert air tends to be some of the least contaminated by air pollution, because there’s less human activity, and it is the best for allergy sufferers, because there’s very little pollen in such a barren environment.
If you’re an athlete, training in the desert can significantly up your game. According to Santiago Lorenzo, a professor of physiology at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and a former decathlete, besides increasing perspiration, exercising in heat can increase the volume of blood plasma (leading to improved cardiovascular fitness), lower the core temperature, and improve other indicators, leading to a better workout than in cool temperatures. Training in hot weather might even be a better way to stimulate physiological adaption than the traditional practice of improving training efficiency by doing it at high altitude.24 High-temperature workouts may not be a regimen for the average person, but with acclimation, proper hydration, and supervision the benefits can be huge. If you’re preparing for a marathon or tennis match, you might want to look into it.
Even those of us who live far from the desert can benefit from dry heat by going to a sauna. Most gyms and health clubs have them, and mobile saunas have become popular in big cities, allowing people to take in some heat close to home. The sweat is worth it: A Finnish study found that regular sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest, coronary heart disease, and fatal cardiovascular disease, and brings more general health benefits, too.25 The Finns know a thing or two about saunas, after all. It’s a huge part of their culture, and there are approximately 2 million saunas among a population of almost 5.5 million, which means one for every two or three people!26
Pretty much anyone who has taken a yoga class has encountered sun salutations. They are best done in the morning, and can be calibrated for difficulty according to your ability. They are thought to awaken the energy of our inner sun or core as it stretches and flexes our muscles, stimulating our joints and organs and increasing blood flow.
1 Stand with your feet parallel, feeling connected to the ground. Bring your palms together and release your shoulders.
2 Take a deep breath and raise your arms overhead, bringing your palms together.
3 Release your breath and your arms as you bend forward. Keep your legs as straight as you can, but don’t lock your knees. Feel the weight of your head as it hangs down.
But have you ever tried doing sun salutations outdoors? In the heat on a beach? On a misty spring morning? On an early winter’s day before the first snowfall? Try it. (It is said that doing 108 rounds of sun salutations is especially auspicious. Good luck!) Here is a simplified version of the sun salutations that are taught in most yoga classes:
4 Inhale and send your fingertips down to the ground, straighten your elbows, and lift your torso away from your thighs. Stretch your entire spine.
5 Step your right foot back, followed by your left foot, putting your feet together into a downward dog. Exhale, and feel yourself connected to the earth.
6 Move into plank pose. Inhale and bring your torso forward until your shoulders are above your wrists, arms perpendicular to the floor.
7 Breathe out as you lower your knees and then torso to the floor, bending your elbows as you do so. Look down at the floor or slightly ahead.
8 Inhale, straighten your arms slightly, and open your chest forward. With toes tucked under your feet, press your front thighs upward. Open your solar plexus—expand and stretch your chest sideways—as you look forward or up at the sky.
9 Release the breath as you move back into downward dog.
10 Inhale and send your fingertips down to the ground, straighten your elbows, and lift your torso away from your thighs. Stretch your entire spine.
11 Exhale back into a forward fold.
12 Breathe in deeply and raise your arms overhead, bringing your palms together.
13 Exhale as you lower your arms and bring your palms together. This is one cycle.
When you have completed your sun salutations, rest on the ground if possible, or in a comfortable seated position. As you do, note your connection to the atmosphere, to the weather. What remains the same? What has changed?
