The Science Behind Forest Therapy
In the past few decades, there has been a massive amount of research done on the health impacts of spending time in nature.
PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALTH BENEFITS: These could include more energy, better sleep, enhanced immunity, healthy digestion, reduced inflammation, lowered blood pressure, etc.
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS: These could include increased focus, enhanced creativity, less stress, enhanced memory, improved mood, less anxiety, relaxation, etc.
EMOTIONAL PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL HEALTH IMPACTS: These could include people feeling more connected, more alive, more present as well as having experiences characterized by joy, transformation, rest, forgiveness, grief, self-acceptance, love, reconciliation, insight, dreams, awe, perspective, purpose, empowerment, empathy integration release, wholeness, etc.
One of the reasons Forest Therapy is an innovative modern health solution is that it draws on nature’s ability to calm us down and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Thousands of years ago our bodies would activate the sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight or freeze) to help us survive a dangerous situation. When we were safe, our bodies would activate the parasympathetic nervous system which would act as a reset to a relaxed state of being. Today, people’s bodies activate the sympathetic nervous system not because a wild animal is chasing them, but because they are experiencing daily stress triggers brought on by excessive and constant stimuli involving an array of high stress concerns. The parasympathetic nervous system is not getting an opportunity to act as a reset.
Research has shown that the parasympathetic nervous system can be activated through mindfulness activities. Forest Therapy falls into this category as well. There is an incredible amount of research demonstrating that simply seeing the colors green and blue can ease our bodies toward relaxation. When we activate the senses of the body we are shifting attention away from the cycle of thoughts that can often trigger the stress response and moving our focus toward states of rest and relaxation that promote the parasympathetic response.
THE POWER OF PHYTONCIDES: Trees are biological organisms that have their own ways of defending themselves from attacking organisms. When a tree is threatened by an attacking organism, such as a fungus, the tree responds by showering itself in it’s own phytoncides, which then seek out and destroy the fungus. Research has shown that when humans inhale phytoncides or absorb them through the skin, it prompts the human body to produce NK-cells (Natural Killer) boosting their immunity function. Japanese researchers named this practice of forest medicine “Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku)” because when people are in the Forest, they are bathing in the phytoncide-rich atmosphere of the Forest.
The research is vast, exciting and comforting. Please explore below in the areas that are of interest to you.