Forest Bathing – The Best Medicine
‘Forest bathing’ or shinrin yoku – spending time in forests and other green environments – is a powerful way to heal our bodies and minds. This is even proven by modern science.
I have always been a firm believer that spending time in forests and other green environments is an extremely powerful way to heal the body and mind. Now, this is being proved by modern scientific research that states many of the most common illnesses people suffer today can be lessened if you spend time in nature.
From a Buddhist perspective our bodies are made up of the four elements and to live long and healthy lives, these elements should be balanced. But most of us live in built-up cities and towns, where due to the urban environment, these elements are out of balance. It is only within nature that these elements are balanced in the environment, and so spending time in natural environments helps to heal our bodies and minds. The elements in our bodies are balanced because the elements in our environment is balanced. What a great way to heal ourselves! Simply by being in nature we are healed!
‘Forest Bathing’ Really May Be Good For Health, Study Finds
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‘Forest bathing’ or shinrin yoku — spending time in a forest or other green space to reap the health benefits — has become an increasingly popular activity in recent years, especially in some countries, like Japan, which take it pretty seriously. And with good reason — the practice isn’t some new-age form of woo-woo healing; it’s an increasingly well-evidenced health habit that’s garnered a lot of popular and scientific interest in the last few years.
A new meta-analysis in the journal Environmental Research finds that people who spend more time in green spaces have significantly reduced risks for a number of chronic illnesses. There are probably several mechanisms behind the connection, but one of the more fascinating ones likely has something to do with phytochemicals that trees emit, and humans breathe in.
The elements are balanced in nature so when we spend time in nature, we are healed.
The researchers, from the University of East Anglia, looked back at data from a slew of earlier studies—103 observational studies and 40 interventional studies. In the latter, different types of interventions were carried out, like assigning people to engage in shinrin yoku (forest bathing) or the equivalent in an urban space. Others looked at post-operative recovery time of people who could see greenery out their hospital window compared to those who could only see a wall; another compared spending time near greenery vs. water.
All told, the research tracked a whopping 290 million participants, from 20 different countries. Participants were 50% of which were in Europe, but many studies (24) were from Japan, where forest bathing is popular. The team correlated the amount of time people spent in green spaces with 100 health outcomes over time, and found a number of relationships.
Spending more time in green spaces was linked to reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol, lower heart rate, reduced risk of coronary heart disease, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of type II diabetes, reduced all-cause mortality and death from heart disease. For women who were pregnant, more time spent in greenery was linked to reduced risk of “small size for gestational age” in the baby as well as preterm birth. Among all the participants, on average, there was an increased likelihood of self-reporting one’s health as “good.”
Some studies also suggested a possible link between green spaces and cancer outcomes, neurological outcomes, sleep duration, and certain biomarkers. The authors do note that some of the studies included weren’t of the highest quality, and further research is certainly warranted.
Being in a natural environment is the best medicine
A number of plausible mechanisms exist, including the obvious—green spaces promote physical activity, social interaction, exposure to sunlight, and reduced pollution, which all boost health in various ways. The less obvious explanations include the “old friends” hypothesis, which suggests that the increased exposure to microorganisms can bolster the immune system, which in turn leads to reduced risk of chronic disease and early death.
But there’s also another possibility—chemicals emitted by the trees themselves, which may affect our immune systems in various ways. “Much of the literature on forest bathing suggests that phytoncides (volatile organic compounds with antibacterial properties) released by trees may explain the salutogenic properties of shinrin yoku [forest bathing],” the authors write. Some studies have also shown that the compounds may increase the activity of the immune system’s natural killer cells themselves.
According to the paper, people have been aware of the connection between greenery and health since the 19th century, which may be part of why city parks and green spaces were developed so thoroughly in that period. The authors suggest that “green prescriptions,” especially for those who lack everyday access to green spaces, may be a valuable addition to medicine, as they could have measurable health benefits over the years. And, as those who spend regular time in nature know, the mental health benefits of forest bathing may be just as strong.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2018/07/10/forest-bathing-really-may-be-good-for-health-study-finds
Alice G. Walton
Jul 10, 2018
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Forest Bathing- The Best Medicine
Explore incredible information about forest bathing. The healing power of forest bathing is amazing and supernatural. Very interesting to know the forest bathing is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. Knowledgeable topic and beneficial information was shared. Most importantly this forest bathing actually improve feelings and happiness and keep us healthy.
I think it must be an activity to do and it is necessary for human to participate. Forest environment provide us the purify air that we breathe. Forest also an instrumental tool for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other toxic in the environment which are responsible for global warming. We often seen people going for picnic in forest waterfalls and spend quality time there. But wonder they know the benefit out of it.
I decided to go for more outing at forest bathing with my family and friends. Besides the chill water it’s also represent rich natural pharmacies by virtue of being enormous sources of plant and microbial material with known nutritional valve. This topic has given me awareness of the forest bathing and a budget outing.
Our body is made up of 4 elements: earth, water, fire and air. These elements are related very closely to the nature. The 4 elements in our bodies have to be balanced in order to have a healthy body. Therefore, it is important to be connected to the mother nature.
In our modern life, we are surrounded by artificial, man-made elements. The house we live in is concrete, the modern technology we use every day, the car, the food we eat, the pollutants we are exposed too are not natural. When our bodies are disconnected with nature, our body and mind will lose the balance, this is when we will fall sick either physically or mentally.
In Japan, people realise that it is very important to be connected with the mother nature, thus more people are doing the Forest Bathing. This is a very good way to relax and calm our mind, most importantly to connect with the mother nature and maintain our well being. In Malaysia, we still have a lot of greens, one of places we can visit is Kechara Forest Retreat. We can be connected with the mother nature here and at the same time we can also collect merits and energise our bodies with very holy and positive energy.
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This is a an Interesting article. I totally agree that forest-bathing is the-best medicine . Scientific research have proven that when we exposure to nature environment can reduce many medical problems such as hypertension, respiratory tract, anxiety and cardiovascular illnesses. It’s really good to get away from our busy, hectic and stressful city life. Really love to experience being in the nature more if i get the chance to. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this informatiive article on healthy living.🙏☘️🌈⭐️🍄😍
It is so interesting to know about the healing elements by bathing in the forest. I read some articles that says forest or jungle produce a lot of natural negative ions which has healing benefit to our body too. Therefore we should always spend more time in the nature which not only good for our physical body but the colours and sound produce naturally already are so calming to the mind. Hope this would encourage more to be close to the nature and not destroy it for sake of development.
Interesting article…….very true forest-bathing is the-best medicine . Scientific research have proven that when we exposure to nature environment can reduce many medical problems such as hypertension, respiratory tract, anxiety and cardiovascular illnesses. Those who spent time hiking or spending time in a forest had measurably health benefits. It helps to lower cortisol rates, heart rates and blood pressure. Wow ….scientists found that when people spend time in natural environment such as forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees they experience increased immune function and the healthier they are . Greenery produces oxygen for all air breathing life.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this valuable story. Forest bathing could really help more people to reduce their stress and live a longer life.
It was never a doubt to me of the benefits of nature; being submerged in it and being surrounded by it often. It is very nourishing for the soul and hence the mind – like a cleanse that rid of negative thoughts and energy. Happy to learn that more research results suggesting the same – we must really go back to nature more. Thank you, Rinpoche, for this sharing.