About the effectiveness of forest bathing & forest therapy

 

 

“Forest bathing” simply means walking slowly through a forest or spending time relaxing. Just as sunbathing is about enjoying time in the sun, or sea-bathing is about enjoying being in the water, forest bathing is about spending a comfortable time in the forest.

There is also a growing number of research and medical studies that suggest forest bathing can bring people into harmony with the forest and nature, resulting in tangible psycho-somatic health benefits.

Since ancient times, humans have enjoyed spending time in and admiring forests.

However, in the early 1980s, when Japanese society was in the deepest throes of stress and overwork, the then-Director-General of the Japanese Forestry Agency first used the term "forest bathing" as a prescription and preventative measure against stress, first establishing the term “forest bathing” in the zeitgeist.

Many of us can attest to the sense of refreshment that washes over us when we enter into the forest. But in the 1990s, experimental research into forest bathing began to be conducted around the world using scientific methods from medicine, physiology, psychology, and other fields. Their conclusion? That forest bathing, which involves spending time relaxing in the forest or in nature, has a multitude of health benefits for both the mind and body.

Since then, “forest bathing”, or “shinrin-yoku” as it is called in Japanese, has become a globally recognised term, and is attracting more international attention than ever before.

Forest Therapy: The Effects and Medical Evidence of Forest Therapy

"Forest therapy" refers to the scientifically and medically proven effectiveness of forest bathing used to maintain mental and physical health and prevent disease (Forest Therapy Society, XNUMX).

Since the 90s, Japan has been at the forefront of forest medicine research.
The target site for this world-first experiment was none other than the Yakusugi forests of Yakushima.

The various health benefits of forest bathing and therapy, such as those listed below, are now scientifically verified, and it has been discovered that these effects can last for more than a month.

Health benefits of Forest Therapy ● A decrease in stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol) and blood pressure ● Stabilisation of pulse rate and regulation of the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic dominance) ● Immune response boost ● Correlation between forest coverage and cancer mortality rates (higher forest coverage ↔︎ lower cancer mortality rates) ● Alleviation of depression and promotion of quality sleep

These are just some of the most widely scientifically verified, evidence-based, peer-reviewed health benefits of forest therapy.

What's more, these effects are said to last for about a month—so, regular sojourns into forests and nature are key to improving our health.

 

References (partial list):
BJ Park, Y. Miyazaki et al. The physiological effects of forest bathing: evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 15 (1) 18-26, 2010
H. Ochiai, Y. Miyazaki et al. Physiologial and psychologial effects of forest therapy on middle-aged males with high-normal blood pressure. Int J Environ Res Public Health 12 2532-2542, 2015
Li Q. et al. Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins.Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 20(2 Suppl 2):3-8, 2007
Li Q. et al. Visiting a forest, but not a city, increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2008 Jan-Mar;21(1):117-27