Forest Bathing Health Benefits

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 254-365

Do you have a forest in your neighborhood?
If not Plant one.
If yes use it take a walk in the forest and enjoy it.
By the way when was the last time you took a walk in the forest any forest?

The "magic" behind forest bathing boils down to the naturally produced allelochemic substances known as phytoncides, which are kind of like pheromones for plants. Their job is to help ward off pesky insects and slow the growth of fungi and bacteria. When humans are exposed to phytoncides, these chemicals are scientifically proven to

•  lower blood pressure, 
• relieve stress and 
• boost the growth of cancer-fighting white blood cells.

 Some common examples of plants that give off phytoncides include garlic, onion, pine, tea tree and oak, which makes sense considering their potent aromas.

Forest bathing is special because because incorporates exercise.

Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. 

Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world. 

The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved. 

The more people walk in the forest the higher the mass of people that would be willing to protect and act on protecting the forests and more people would be against logging companies that destroy it.

The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:

• Lowered blood pressure
• Lowered pulse rate
• Reduced cortisol levels
• Increased vigor
• Reduced anger
• Reduced depression

Just as impressive are the results that we are experiencing as we make this part of our regular practice:

• Deeper and clearer intuition
• Increased flow of energy
• Increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species
• Increased flow of eros/life force
• Deepening of friendships
• Overall increase in sense of happiness

 Shinrin Yoku Forest Therapy combines leisurely walks on gentle paths under forest canopy with guided activities and meditations to help you open your senses, hone your intuition, and experience the forest as you never have before.

Go to a Forest. Walk slowly. Breathe. Open all your senses. This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest.

Studies show shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing or time spent in green spaces, can reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase your immune defense system.

Again my idea is to create a critical mass to reverse the deforestation and start a massive reforestation process around the world. Our health depend on the existence of the forest.