Have you ever stopped to notice that sense of calm you get when walking in the woods/forest or hiking a trail? What is it about nature that has the ability to almost immediately calm us down after our stress filled days?
The activity of Forest Bathing began in Japan in 1980 and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers, primarily in Japan and South Korea, have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now, their research is helping to establish Shinrin-yoku and Forest Bathing throughout the world.
The idea of Forest Bathing is very simple. If a person visits a park, or a forest and walks in a relaxed manner, there are many calming, and rejuvenating, as well as restorative benefits to be achieved. Engaging our 5 senses in a forest environment inputs sensory information to our brains, the part that controls emotion and physiological function. We have known this intuitively for quite some time, but now there is research to back this up.
Prior to industrialization, humans lived in a more natural environment, so it is only natural that when visiting a forested area, we relax, breathe easier, smile often, and feel that sense of connectedness to nature.
Studies show that people living in a highly forested area, show lower mortality due to cancers, including lung, breast and uterine cancer in females, and prostate, kidney and colon cancer in males. Conversely, those living in lower forest coverage had a higher breast and prostate cancer rates.
In the past several decades, there have been many scientific studies that have demonstrated the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. Many coniferous trees (including fir, spruce and pine) give off organic compounds called phytoncides, that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells which are part of our immune system’s way of fighting cancer. These same phytoncides also decrease stress hormone levels and improve immunity for 7 days, and in some cases up to 30 days. The citrus fragrance found in forests affects the human endocrine and immune system in those with depression.
Some research is available at: http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/the-science.html
The scientifically proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:
- Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body’s (NK) cells.
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced stress
- Improved mood
- Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
- Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
- Increased energy level
- Improved sleep
Other impressive test results that may intrigue you to make this part of your regular wellness regimen include:
- Deeper and clearer intuition
- Increased flow of energy
- Increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species
- Increased flow of eros/life force
- Deepening of friendships
- Overall increase in sense of happiness
Shinrin-yoku has roots in many cultures throughout history. John Muir wrote, “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home. Wilderness is necessity.”
Living in our modern, artificial world is obviously very stressful and against our natural human evolutionary process. Taking a Forest Bath is a wonderful way to get back in touch with the natural world, and begin healing your body on every level.