Studies investigating the effect of
forest therapy on physiological well-
being have also demonstrated a positive
impact on cognitive function, immune
function, blood glucose levels in diabetic
patients, hypertension, cardiovascular
disease, cancer, and pain. Earlier studies
conducted with surgical patients suggest
that exposure to a green environment is
associated with the recovery of illness and
even decreased mortality.
The study’s authors wrote that they
envision ultimately developing a "nature
prescription" - or "nature pill" - that
health care providers can offer to their
patients as a low-cost, preventive mental
health treatment. (The "pill" is the time
spent outside.)
While the theory of forest therapy, the
belief that taking time out in nature,
specifically a forest area, can affect human
well-being and health, was first proposed
in Western countries, it was researchers
from Japan that instigated studies to
evaluate the therapeutic effect of spending
time in forests on health and well-being.
These Japanese studies influenced further
research in Korea, China, and Europe.
It was the Japanese who coined the
term “shinrin-yoku” to depict activities
of recreation and relaxation in a forest.
Shinrin-yoku specifically relates to the
activity of forest bathing, staying and/or
walking in forest, and breathing in the
volatile substances released by the trees.
Hence, we conducted a further literature
review to evaluate the current evidence
of spending time in natural green
environment, specifically, forest bathing.
Our research question is “what, if any,
evidence is there that forest bathing has
effects on health, and if so, what health
indicators show improvement with this
exposure?”
Peter James, an assistant professor in the
department of population medicine at
Harvard Medical School who has studied
the link between nature and well-being,
says the study's approach highlights the
trade-off of letting participants shape the
intervention based on their own interests.
While it makes the research more feasible,
it becomes difficult to know whether
they stayed outdoors longer because of
a personal inclination, like because they
were having a great time - or some other
factor unknown to the researchers. It's
also then hard to know the characteristics
of the participants' nature experience.
While intriguing, there are limitations
to broadly generalizing the findings. The
small sample consisted mainly of white
women, all healthy, with a mean age
of 46, who responded to an ad seeking
people interested in spending more time
outdoors in green spaces. That group does
not reflect the population at large.
Some research, however, does suggest
that exposure to nature and green spaces
have strong health benefits for low-
income populations. Research shows
that 20 minutes in nature may be out
of reach for many people. It might be
difficult for them to reach green spaces or
they cannot commit to that much time.
It is recommended just five minutes per
outing to start. It is a number that seems
manageable and can quickly turn into
more time.
Have you been feeling down lately? A
little sluggish, stressed out, or maybe
wondering, ”What is all this life about?”
Here’s another question: How much
time have you spent in nature lately? The
answer to these two questions might be
more closely related than you would think.
We live in a time when we can set the
thermostat, order takeout and stream a
movie from a cell phone; never having
to get off the couch, let alone leave the
house. But our ancestors were tightly tied
to time in nature - they had to be in order
to survive. Was that rustle in the brush
predator or prey? Did the position of
the sun mean it was time to head home?
Could that copse of trees provide safe
shelter for the night?
Spending time in nature can help relieve
stress and anxiety, improve your mood,
and boost feelings of happiness and
wellbeing. Whatever you call it - forest
bathing, ecotherapy, and mindfulness in
nature, green time or the wilderness cure
- humans evolved in the great outdoors
and your brain benefits as a leader from a
journey back to nature.
Joe Nyutu is a marketing and
strategy consultant who teaches
marketing on part-time basis at a
local leading university and can
be reached via: Nyutu1kj@yahoo.
com