Forest bathing started in Japan in the 1980’s. Since then, scientific studies have shown that it has lots of health benefits. So much so that is has become an accepted part of the Japanese preventative health care because of the positive effects on mental and physical health. Let's take a look at some of the health benefits of forest bathing.
Let’s look at the effect of forest bathing on the mental health first. Going on regular forest bathing walks releases stress and anxiety and can help you to relax. It turns of worrying and obsessive thinking, helps with anger, fatigue, and sadness, and improves feelings of happiness and restores our mood. Forest bathing improves your concentration, helps you to think more clearly, and increases
your attention span. It also opens up creativity and increases creative problem solving. It improves sleeping patterns, makes you feel refreshed and gives you new energy.
Our physical health can also improve by forest bathing. For example, it lowers blood pressure and boosts your immune system. It decreases inflammation and increases natural killer cell activity. It improves cardiovascular and metabolic health. It also reliefs sore muscles and accelerates recovery from illness and trauma.
When you go forest bathing in a group it also gives a sense of belonging and community which reduces feelings of loneliness. During a forest bathing walk we talk about what we see around us and what is happening at that moment. We connect with each other without judgement or competition. We come as we are, and everybody is equal.
Scientific studies show that participants benefit most when they go on forest bathing trips every one to four weeks. The more often you can go, the better. Positive results were still seen seven to thirty days later. Scientists suggest that because of this, forest bathing may have a preventative effect on the development of diseases.
That spending time in the forest is so beneficial for our health has multiple reasons. The most obvious one is that there is a higher concentration of oxygen, compared to urban areas. Another reason is that plants and trees release chemicals called phytoncides. These are natural essential oils that are part of a plant’s defence system against bacteria, insects, and fungi. They also have a
positive effect on humans. By breathing them in, they boost our immune system. And then there is the soil on the forest floor. Forest soils are among the most diverse microbial habitats on Earth. Soil microbes help regulate our emotions and immune response.
Important note: While forest bathing offers many (physical and mental) health benefits, it is not a substitute for medical treatment. If you have symptoms of an illness, always contact your doctor. Never replace prescribed medication with forest bathing. It can be a wonderful complementary practice, but professional medical advice and treatment should always be your first priority.
(First published on A Mindful Hiker Blog)