`Natural' distractions reduce pain

Never underestimate the power of a babbling brook. Using the sights and sounds of nature helps patients deal with the pain and discomfort of medical procedures, according to a study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Researchers tested "distraction therapy" on patients undergoing a bronchoscopy, a diagnostic test for pneumonia that involves inserting a quarter-inch tube through the nose or mouth to take pictures and tissue samples of the lungs.

During the half-hour procedure and for several hours afterward, the subjects heard the sounds of a brook while looking at a large panel of a meadow scene. (They were also given medication.) Nearly 30 percent of those exposed to the nature simulations reported their pain control as "excellent" or "very good," compared to 20 percent of the control group.

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