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Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy

Updated: Aug 4

Everyone is aware of some of the benefits of trees, such as improved air quality, reduced risk of heat related illness and increased wildlife habitats. Trees can help reduce asthma problems, reduce ozone levels, and absorb carbon dioxide. Trees help with climate change also, but are you aware that they can help you destress?


Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, refers to relaxing in nature. It is thought that reconnecting with nature resets your brain. (Das, 2017)  In the 1980s, with the technology boom, people were very stressed and mostly working in offices. They were no longer working in the fields or under trees, and the office environment caused so much stress that health care providers took to prescribing a forest walk. People were removed from nature and trees and to combat this, the Japanese doctors started recommending bathing in nature to help people cope with stressful city life and careers. Japan has forests and parks dedicated to pursuing forest bathing. I have often said to my patients, “We are not supposed to be sitting at a desk. We are supposed to be out in the woods collecting nuts and berries. This is a man-made health problem.” It made sense to me as a health care provider and started me on a journey to discover more about the health benefits of forests.


In Japan, Dr Yoshifumi Miyazaki from the Chiba University’s center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences and Dr Qing Li from Nippon Medical school have been studying forest bathing effects on health. They have collected health data and found that “forest bathing lowers your blood pressure, pulse rate, and cortisol levels; increases heart rate variability; and improves your mood”.  (Choukas-Bradley, 2018) Trees and plants give off volatile compounds called phytoncides into the air. These phytoncides protect plants against pathogens. When we are in the forest, we breathe some of these phytoncides, and it is thought they help increase immunity to cancer and other disease by increasing our natural killer cells. The physical, mental, and emotional benefits of time in the forests have been studied and proven all over the world by researchers in South Korea, China the UK, Europe and North America.


Dr Qing Li notes 4 findings in his book on forest bathing ( Dr. Qing Li, 2018)

  • The average sleep time of participants after a two hour forest walk increased by 15%, or 54 minutes

  • Participants were significantly less anxious after a two hour walk in the forest

  • Quality of sleep was better after forest bathing

  • Afternoon walks improved the quality of sleep more than morning walks


With modern technology and dependency on cell phones, one needs a forest bath to rejuvenate and destress from the hustle and bustle of life. Disengage and take a 20-minute walk in the woods, deeply breathe in some good clean phytoncides and improve your health. (Choukas-Bradley, 2018)




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