Table 2.

Clinical evidence on incorporating nature exposure and self-care modalities into therapeutic interior environments for people with chronic pain.

Modality	Studies Supporting Interior Landscapes Integrating Biophilic Interventions and Self-Care
Exposure to nature	Exposure to flowers can improve fibromyalgia pain and postoperative pain [43,44] Forest bathing can reduce posterior neck pain [42] Forest bathing can reduce chronic pain and depressive symptoms, while also increasing natural killer (NK) cell activity [49]
Lighting	Exposure to natural sunlight can reduce pain and use of analgesic medications [61] Exposure to morning bright light can reduce lower back pain [94,95] Exposure to home-based morning bright light can improve fibromyalgia pain sensitivity [96] Exposure to green LED light can reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients [97]
Music	Music can reduce chronic pain and the use of pain medications [39,91,92] Music significantly reduces postoperative pain [92,98] Music reduces pain in fibromyalgia patients [99]
Physical activity, yoga and breathing exercises	Physical activity and yoga are recommended by the American College of Physicians clinical guidelines as the first-line therapy for lower back pain [90] Breathing exercises can reduce chronic lower back pain and improve quality of life [100]
Mindfulness meditation	Mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce chronic pain and depressive symptoms [101,102]
Sleep hygiene	Poor sleep quality is associated with increased pain intensity [103,104]
Combination of modalities	A combination of nature exposure, physical activity, education and social support can improve pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia patients [105] A combination of music, relaxation and guided imagery reduces pain in fibromyalgia patients [106,107] Exercise and meditation reduces lower back pain intensity [108]