Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy
Why we all need more time in green spaces
Note: This blog post is an edited version of my full article titled Hiking in the Wilds on all the benefits of forest bathing and the art of pilgrimage – please check it out my Substack.
It is probably no surprise that as a Naturopath I love to hike and get out in nature – anywhere from parks and forests to the beach. Some of my favourite hikes such as Noosa National Park include both the ocean and the forest which is a particularly winning combination. Getting in the ocean after a big hike is such a great feeling. Living on the Sunshine Coast allows me to explore many unique spots of natural beauty.
I do think it rather intriguing how popular the Japanese term “forest bathing” has become. It is a curious and distinctly modern idea, this need to visit green spaces as a form of therapy. Clearly humans have always lived amongst the natural world and the green zones of life are what have sustained us for millennia. Now in our modern lives we have to be reminded to go outside and actively work on getting more time in nature to receive the many benefits it brings to our body, mind and soul.
I appreciate the walking meditation aspects that are offered by a good hike in the forest. I love how when we are in the forest little things happen in the psyche and the spirit that we rarely get through our normal everyday interactions of the world that we inhabit. It can be hard to put a finger on what these things exactly are and what they transmit to us. An expansion of the senses occurs, with our eyes taking in natural beauty and dappled sunlight and our ears receiving soothing nature sounds of birds, wind in the leaves, and moving waterways. We also take in so many smells and fragrances when we are wandering in nature.
I recently discovered the word, phytoncide, which refers to a bunch of chemical compounds that are released by certain types of forest trees that offer benefits for our immune system. As a medical herbalist and clinical nutritionist I am well aware of the many diverse plant compounds found in plants and foods that positively influence our health when ingested. So I was pleased to learn about phytoncides and how these invisible airborne molecules that trees emit contain antibacterial and antifungal qualities which help plants fight disease and how we can naturally breathe them in and absorb their medicinal goodness.
We have also discovered the immune benefits such as increased white blood cell counts received from a few days in the forest last for over 30 days afterwards, suggesting a regular monthly forest hike might be worth scheduling in.[i] Most of us are breathing in way too many pollutants from urban environments and modern life, so getting pure and highly oxygenated air with bonus active immune compounds in the forest is perhaps one of the simplest medicines we can give our body.
A plethora of other research into nature therapy over the past decade has found benefits on blood pressure, stress hormones, immunity and mood.[ii] Children with ADHD have improved concentration and focus after spending time outdoors in nature[iii], while a low exposure to green spaces during early childhood, may even be associated with a higher risk of developing ADHD in the first place.[iv]
I enjoyed recently reading about a novel forest healing programme for depression.[v] By combining various activities such as exercise, walking, breathing, and play activities in the forest, researchers found positive improvements with notable shifts in mindset and mood and many participants reported feeling boosted and energised. This does not even factor in the benefits of sunlight exposure and grounding or earthing that can come from being outdoors in a natural landscape.
Aside from the physical benefits discussed above, when I go on a forest hike I am also inviting a spaciousness into my being. When our senses fully come to life we can more appreciate the natural beauty of our surroundings and even experience that magical feeling of awe and wonder.
Walking in a natural wilderness area is the ultimate mindfulness activity where we can just be with ourselves, we can be one with nature and drop into the present moment. It is very nourishing for the soul in our busy modern life to create some space to dream and to think outside the normal cluttered mind which can open ourselves to insights, creativity and inspiration. I encourage you to take yourself to a park, beach or forest and experience the magic of nature and see for yourself how it can support the health and wellbeing of your body, mind and spirit.
This blog post is an edited version of my full article titled Hiking in the Wilds on all the benefits of forest bathing and the art of pilgrimage – please check it out my substack.
REFERENCES
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/
[ii]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866720304039
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4491800/
[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7755168/
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10606414/
