A growing body of research suggests that connecting to nature and 'bathing' in forests is both a prescriptive and preventative way to improve your health. 

We are increasingly learning about the intricate interconnections between our human wellbeing and our connection with nature. Evolutionary biology indicates that the Homo genus emerged through the process of evolution some 6-7 million years ago and our own species Homo sapiens ~200,000 years ago. Our nervous systems are an extension of nature and allow us to be sensitively attuned to our environment. There are two main aspects to our autonomic nervous systems: 1) the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) that is responsible for states of arousal/alertness, often referred to as fight or flight mode, and 2) the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which is responsible for states of rest and relaxation, often referred to as rest and digest mode. Our nervous systems are designed for bursts of SNS activity and sustained periods of PNS activity. We have an inbuilt system that allows us to up regulate our nervous system when required and down regulate our nervous system to restore equilibrium. The ability to move between the two is innate and essential to be in a state of health and wellbeing. 

In our contemporary lives our nervous systems are conditioned to be predominately in a sympathetic state, or in a constant state of arousal, known as stress. Medical research is indicating that prolonged periods of stress has serious impacts on our immune system and overall health. Many diseases are linked to stress.
This is where reconnecting to nature and restoring innate ways to release stress and enter into relaxed states is essential.
Simply being in a natural environment has a restorative effect. When coupled with simple mindfulness practices that focus your attention on your senses your nervous system is given the opportunity to down regulate and associated hormones responsible for positive states are released. 
Research indicates that spending time in nature supports the reduction of stress, improves immune function, decreases blood pressure, assists mood/hormone regulation and an array of other psychological and physiological benefits. 
One study indicates that spending at least 2 hour in nature a week is associated with good health and wellbeing [32]. ​

This is where we can support you. Connecting to nature, attuning to your senses and enjoying meaningful experiences together is what we specialise in. We can tailor experiences depending on your needs; from gentle walks, long hikes, group walks or even one on one with our qualified health and wellbeing practitioners. Contact us to express your interest and needs or join one of our upcoming public tours.

Exposure to forests may provide potential benefits in the management of psychological symptoms including :

• Anxiety [12, 16, 20]
• Depression [12, 16, 20]
• Mood disorder [24]
• Exhaustion disorder [27]
• Life-related stress [14]
• Overall quality of life [28]

​Other positive impacts have been demonstrated for:

• Cognitive function [23]
• Immune system functioning by increasing natural killer cells [6, 8, 9, 16, 31]​
• Decreased cortisol levels (lower stress, anxiety and depression) [12, 16, 22, 30]
• Hypertension (improved blood pressure & heart rate)  [16, 29]
• Cardiovascular system [3, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, 25, 26, 31, 33]​
• Balancing the nervous system, by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and relax) and de-activating the sympathetic nervous system (fight and flight) [14, 21]
• Inflammation [16]
• Oxidative stress [16]
• Cancer [13]
• Pain [5]
• ​Emotional Response [16]​
• Increased restoration [2]
• Improving creativity [20, 32]​
• Blood glucose levels in diabetic patients [18]​
• Reduced level of rumination (negative thoughts) [4]
• Improved mental health [22]
• Respiratory system [31]

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References

1. Bielinis, E., Jaroszewska, A., Łukowski, A., Takayama, N., 2019. The Effects of a Forest Therapy Programme on Mental Hospital Patients with Affective and Psychotic Disorders. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 17, 118.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010118

2. Bielinis, E., Bielinis, L., Krupińska-Szeluga, S., Łukowski, A., Takayama, N., Bielinis., et al. 2019. The effects of a short forest recreation program on physiological and psychological relaxation in young Polish adults. Forests. 10 (1), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010118

3. Bing, B. J., Xin, Y. Z., Xiang, M. G., Dong, L. Y., Lin, W. X., Hong, X. W., Ling, L. X., Bao, C. Y., Fu, W. G., 2016. Health effect of Forest bathing trip on elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Biomed. Environ. Sci. 29 (3), 212–218. 
https://doi. org/10.3967/bes2016.026

4. Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J., 2015. Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112 (28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112

5. Kang, B., Kim, T., Kim, M. J., Lee, K. H., Choi, S., Lee, D. H., Kim, H. R., Jun, B., Park, S. Y., Lee, S. J., Park, S. B., 2015. Relief of chronic posterior neck pain depending on the type of forest therapy: comparison of the therapeutic effect of forest bathing alone versus forest bathing with exercise. Ann Rehabil Med. 39 (6), 957–63. 
https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.6.957

6. Kim, B.J., Jeong, H., Park, S., Lee, S., 2015. Forest adjuvant anti-cancer therapy to enhance natural cytotoxicity in urban women with breast cancer: a preliminary prospective interventional study. Eur. J. Integr. Med. 7, 474–478. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2015.06.004
​
7. Lee, J., Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Ohira, T., Kagawa, T., Miyazaki, Y., 2011. Effect of forest bathing on physiological and psychological responses in young Japanese male subjects. Public Health. 125, 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2010.09.005

8. Li, Q., Morimoto, K., Nakadai, A., Inagaki, H., Katsumata, M., Shimizu, T., Hirata, Y., Hirata, K., Suzuki, H., Miyazaki, Y., Kagawa, T., Koyama, Y., Ohira, T., Takayama, N., Kresnky, A.M., Kawada, T., 2007. Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 20 (2), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/03946320070200S202

9. Li, Q., Morimoto, K., Kobayashi, M., Inagaki, H., Katsumata, M., Hirata, Y., Hirata, K., Suzuki, H., Li, Y. J., Wakayama, Y., Kawada, T., Park, B. J., Ohira, T., Matsu, N., Kagawa, T., Miyazak, Y., Krensky, A. M., 2008, Visiting a forest, but not a city, increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 21 (1), 117–27.
https://doi.org/10.1177/039463200802100113

10. Mao G-X, Cao Y-B, Lan X-G., He, Z-H., Chen, Z-M., Wang, Y-Z., Hu, X-L., Lv, Y-D., Wang, G-F., Yan, J., 2012. Therapeutic effect of forest bathing on human hypertension in the elderly. J Cardiol. 60 (6), 495–502.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjcc.2012.08.003

11. Mao, G., Cao, Y., Wang, B., Wang, S., Chen, Z., Wang, J., Xing, W., Ren, X., Lv, X., Dong, J., Chen, S., Chen, X., Wang, G., Yan, J., 2017. The salutary influence of Forest bathing on elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 14 (4), 368–387. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040368.

12. Morita, E., Fukuda, S., Nagano, J., Hamajima, N., Yamamoto, H., Iwai, Y., Nakashima, T., Ohira, H., Shirakawa, T., 2007. Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public Health. 121 (1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2006.05.024.

13. Nakau M, Imanishi J, Imanishi J., Watanabe, S., Imanishi, A., Baba, T., Hirai, K., Ito, T., Chiba, W., Morimoto, Y., 2013. Spiritual care of cancer patients by integrated medicine in urban green space: a pilot study. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. 9 (2), 87–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2012.12.002

​14. Park B-J., Tsunetsugu Y.,Kasetani T., Hirano, H., Kagawa, T., Sato, M., Miyazaki, Y., 2007. Physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest)--using salivary cortisol and cerebral activity as indicators. J Physiol Anthropol. 26 (2), 123–8. https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.26.123

15. Ochiai, H., Ikei, H., Song, C., Kobayashi, M., Miura, T., Kagawa, L., Kumeda, S., Imai, M., Miyazaki, Y., 2015. Physiological and psychological effects of a Forest therapy program on Middle-aged females. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 12 (12), 15222–15232. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121214984.

16. Oh, B.,  Lee, KJ., Zaslawski, C., Yeung, A., Rosenthal, D., Larkey, L., and Back, M. (2017)Health and well-being benefits of spending time in forests: systematic review. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine (2017) 22:71 https://doaj.org/article/c019e6d7e43a4146bca94d8e6e5fe509
17. Ohe, Y., Ikei, H., Song, C., Miyazaki, Y., 2017. Evaluating the relaxation effects of emerging forest-therapy tourism: a multidisciplinary approach. Tourism Manage. 62, 322–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.04.010

18. Ohtsuka, Y., Yabunaka, N., Takayama, S., 1998. Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Int J Biometeorol. 41 (3), 125–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050064

19. Rajoo, K. S., Karam, D. S., Abdul Aziz, N. A., 2019. Developing an effective forest therapy program to manage academic stress in conservative societies: A multi-disciplinary approach. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 43, 126353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.05.015

20. Rajoo, K. S., Karam, D. S., Abdullaha, M. Z., 2020. The physiological and psychosocial effects of forest therapy: A systematic review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 54, 126744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126744

21. Richardson, M., McEwan, K., Maratos, F., Sheffield, D. 2016. Joy and calm: how an evolutionary functional model of affect regulation informs positive emotions in nature. Evolutionary Psychological Science. 2 (4), 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-016-0065-5

22. Shanahan, D. F., Astell–Burt, T., Barber, E. A., Brymer, E., Cox, D. T. C., Dean, J., Depledge, M., Fuller, R. A., Hartig, T., Irvine, K. N., Jones, A., Kikillus, H.,  Lovell, R., Mitchell, R., Niemelä, J., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Pretty, J., Townsend, M., Heezik, YV., Warber, S.,and Gaston, KJ. 2019. Nature–Based Interventions for Improving Health and Wellbeing: The Purpose, the People and the Outcomes. Sports. 7, 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7060141

23. Shin, W. S., Shin, C. S., Yeoun, P. S., Kim, J. J., 2010. The influence of interaction with forest on cognitive function. Scand J For Res. 26 (6), 595–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2011.585996

​24. Shin, W. S., Shin, C. S., Yeoun, P. S., 2012. The influence of forest therapy camp on depression in alcoholics. Environ Health Prev Med. 17 (1), 73–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-011-0215-0

25. Song, C., Ikei, H., Kobayashi, M., Miura, T., Taue, M., Kagawa, T., Li, Q., Kumeda, S.,Imai, M., Miyazaki, Y., 2015. Effect of forest walking on autonomic nervous system activity in middle-aged hypertensive individuals: a pilot study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 12, 2687–2699. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302687

26. Song, C., Ikei, H., Miyazaki, Y., 2017. Sustained effects of a forest therapy program on the blood pressure of office workers. Urban For. Urban Green. 27, 246–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.08.015

27. Sonntag-Öström, E., Nordin, M., Lundell, Y., Dolling, A., Wiklund, U., Karlsson, M., Carlberg, B., Järvholma, L. S., 2014. Restorative effects of visits to urban and forest environments in patients with exhaustion disorder. Urban For Urban Green. 13 (2), 344–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.12.007

28. Sung J, Woo J-M, Kim W, Lim, S-K., Chung, E-J., 2012. The effect of cognitive behavior therapy- based “forest therapy” program on blood pressure, salivary cortisol level, and quality of life in elderly hypertensive patients. Clin Exp Hypertens. 34 (1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3109/10641963.2011.618195

29. Tsunetsugu Y, Park BJ, Ishii H., Hirano, H., Kagawa, T., Miyazaki, Y., 2007. Physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest) in an old-growth broadleaf forest in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. J Physiol Anthropol. 26 (2), 135–42. https://doi.org/10.2114/jpa2.26.135

30. Vujcic, M., Tomicevic-Dubljevic, J., Grbic, M., Lecic-Tosevski, D., Vukovic, O., & Toskovic, O., 2017. Nature based solution for improving mental health and well-being in urban areas. Environmental Research, 158, 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.030

31. Williams, F., 2016. This is your brain on nature. Retrieved July 13, 2019, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/01/call-to-wild/


 32. White, PM., Alcock, I., Grellier J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber SL., Bone, A., Depledge, MH., Fleming, LE., 2019. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 9:7730
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
​
33. Yu, C., Hsieh, H., 2020. Beyond restoratives benefits: evaluating the effect of forest therapy on creativity. Urban For. Urban Green. 51, 126670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126670