MIND OVER MOOD
  • Home
  • MOM 2nd Ed
    • INFO
    • Excerpt
    • Worksheets
    • ALL Translations
    • Spanish
    • Rankings
  • VIDEO/AUDIO
  • FIND Therapist
  • CBT NEWS
  • OTHER BOOKS
    • REC BOOKS
    • 1st MOM Info/Awards
    • 1st MOM Worksheets
    • 1ST MOM Translations
  • CBT Model
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Search
  • Home
  • MOM 2nd Ed
    • INFO
    • Excerpt
    • Worksheets
    • ALL Translations
    • Spanish
    • Rankings
  • VIDEO/AUDIO
  • FIND Therapist
  • CBT NEWS
  • OTHER BOOKS
    • REC BOOKS
    • 1st MOM Info/Awards
    • 1st MOM Worksheets
    • 1ST MOM Translations
  • CBT Model
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Search
Search

CBT NEWS

Reduce Your Blood Pressure As You Enjoy a Crackling Fire

1/22/2015

 
Categories: Mood Tips
Picture
The Winter season in California presents some chilly weather (at least when you compare it to our normally warm days). And throughout the world, winters can be brutally cold. But there is a great advantage to us when we light and burn a roaring fire.

Did you know that watching an open fire (one that crackels and pops) can help reduce your blood pressure? Although not shocking news, you may not know that you don't even need a fireplace to get the benefit. 
All you have to do is watch a video and make sure there are sound effects.

It turns out Dr Christopher Dana Lynn, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama, has a theory that fire is relaxing to human beings. He conducted a three-year study which found a link between watching burning fires and a reduction in blood pressure. When the fires are vigorous, crackling and making roaring sounds, we tend to feel calmer - more relaxed. They can also help us feel closer to the people watching the fire with us.

If you want to read about Dr Lynn's findings, here is a link to his journal article: “Hearth and Campfire Influences on Arterial Blood Pressure: Defraying the Costs of the Social Brain through Fireside Relaxation” 
​​Reference: Dana Lynn, C. (2014). Hearth and Campfire Influences on Arterial Blood Pressure: Defraying the Costs of the Social Brain through Fireside Relaxation. Evolutionary Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491401200509
​Here's our favorite video of a wonderful, live fire. You know it is not CGI when you see a hand and arm come into the frame to add more logs and adjust them. It pops, it crackles and it roars. Since research shows that the more natural the fire and the longer you watch, the more significant decreases in blood pressure, we're posting the three hour version. - ENJOY
Photo credit: Roaring Fire by terren in Virginia. Licensed under CC BY 2.0

Comments are closed.

    CBT News

    Noteworthy articles that have appeared in the news regarding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), resilience, skills, strengths, brain science, therapy focus, mood tips, and many different mental health issues. 

    Categories

    All
    Anxiety
    AT Beck
    Brain Science
    Buddhism
    CBT
    Children
    Choosing A Therapist
    Chronic Fatigue
    Depression / Hopelessness
    Emotions
    Heart Attacks
    Mind Over Mood
    Mood Tips
    OCD
    PTSD
    Resilience
    Sleep / Insomnia
    Social Anxiety
    Television
    Therapy Focus
    Weight Control

    Archives

    March 2023
    November 2021
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    May 2017
    February 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    June 2014
    May 2012
    August 2011
    February 2011
    August 2010
    July 2010
    November 2009
    September 2009
    February 2009
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    April 2006
    January 2006
    January 2005
    December 2003
    May 2002

    RSS Feed

MindOverMood.com is a division of Padesky.com and the Center for Cognitive Therapy, Huntington Beach, California​
© Copyright  1999 - 2023 Christine A. Padesky • MindOverMood.com • All rights reserved  |  PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS  |  CONTACT US
Disclaimer: The contents of the MindOverMood.com website are for general informational purposes only and intended to be educational in nature. The contents are not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment from a qualified mental health professional.

Amazon Associates Disclosure: MindOverMood.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Photos used under Creative Commons from auntjojo, Alyssa L. Miller, jazbeck, Rennett Stowe, Lucas Hayas, Prince Lang Gallery, Alexandra E Rust
  • Home
  • MOM 2nd Ed
    • INFO
    • Excerpt
    • Worksheets
    • ALL Translations
    • Spanish
    • Rankings
  • VIDEO/AUDIO
  • FIND Therapist
  • CBT NEWS
  • OTHER BOOKS
    • REC BOOKS
    • 1st MOM Info/Awards
    • 1st MOM Worksheets
    • 1ST MOM Translations
  • CBT Model
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Search