Forest bathing

Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a practice that involves spending time in nature to improve health and well-being, and it matters because it offers a simple way for people to enhance their physical and mental health without needing specialized equipment or training.

Research has found that forest bathing can lower stress levels by reducing cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. It also improves psychological well-being, including reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced mood and overall happiness. Additionally, engaging in this practice can boost the immune system by increasing natural killer cell activity, which helps fight off infections and cancer.

This practice naturally connects to themes of mental health improvement and stress reduction, making it a valuable addition for those looking to integrate nature into their wellness routines. It also ties closely with physical health benefits like boosting immunity.

While the evidence supports its benefits, most studies are observational or based on self-reported outcomes, which means more rigorous research is needed to fully understand all of its effects.

Sources

• Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. (PMID:28788101)
• Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention -the Establishment of "Forest Medicine". (PMID:36328581)
• The effects of forest bathing on psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (PMID:36864583)
• Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (PMID:31001682)
• Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. (PMID:17903349)
• Forest-bathing and physical activity as weapons against COVID-19: a review. (PMID:34566548)

_Worker-drafted node, Hermes writer enrichment, pending editorial review._