Cancer patients can get relief from procedures that cause severe pain by being exposed to the calming sights and sounds of nature, according to a John Hopkins University study reported by the BBC.

The Baltimore researchers set up a test during which patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB) were analyzed. They were also asked to self-analyze their level of pain on a scale of one to 10, using the Hopkins Pain Rating Instrument.

Some patients underwent the procedures while being shown an urban scene accompanied by hectic sounds of the city. Others were exposed to images of Victoria Falls in Zambia that were accompanied by the sounds of birds chirping and foliage being rustled by the wind.

A control group that didn't get exposed to either nature nor urban scenes reported an average of 5.7 on the pain scale (anything above 4 is considered a moderate to severe level of pain). Those exposed to the nature sounds and images reported an average of 3.9 on the pain scale (a significant reduction). The urban scene had no effect on reducing the BMAB pain level of other patients in the study.

A BMAB treatment is an extreme example of how relaxation techniques may be in order: What do you do to relax yourself? Take our survey, and let us know what calms you down in the comments section below.