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Nature therapy

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(Redirected fromForest bathing)
"forest bathing" redirects here. For the Japanese practice, seeShinrin-yoku.

Nature therapy,sometimes referred to asecotherapy,forest therapy,forest bathing,grounding,earthing,Shinrin-YokuorSami Lok,is a practice that describes a broad group of techniques or treatments using nature to improvementalor physical health. Spending time in nature has variousphysiologicalbenefits such as relaxation andstress reduction.[1][2][3]Additionally, it can enhance cardiovascular health and reduce risks of high blood pressure.[4][5]

History

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Scientists in the 1950s looked into the reasons humans chose to spend time in nature.[6]There is relatively recent history of the termShinrin-yoku(Rừng rậm tắm) or 'forest bathing' gaining momentum as a term and concept within American culture; the term 'forest bathing' and Shrinrin-yoku was first popularized in Japan by a man named Tomohide Akiyama, who was the head of theJapanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries;this happened in 1982 to encourage more people to visit the forests.[7][5][8][9][10]

Health effects

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Mood

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Nature therapy has a benefit in reducing stress and improving a person's mood.[11][12]

Forest therapy has been linked to some physiological benefits as indicated by neuroimaging and theprofile of mood statespsychological test.[13]

Stress and depression

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Interaction with nature can decrease stress and depression.[4][12][7][14]Forest therapy might help stress management for all age groups.[15]

Social horticulture could help with depression and other mental health problems of PTSD, abuse, lonely elderly people,[16]drug or alcohol addicts, blind people, and other people with special needs.[17]Nature therapy could also improve self-management, self-esteem, social relations and skills, socio-political awareness and employability.[18]Nature therapy could reduce aggression and improve relationship skills.[19]

Other possible benefits

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Nature therapy could help with general medical recovery, pain reduction, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, dementia, obesity, andvitamin D deficiency.[20]Interactions with nature environments enhance social connections, stewardship, sense of place, and increase environmental participation.[21]Connecting with nature also addresses needs such as intellectual capacity, emotional bonding, creativity, and imagination.[22]Overall, there seems to be benefits to time spent in nature including memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control.[23]

Research also suggests that childhood experience in nature are crucial for children in their daily lives as it contributes to several developmental outcomes and various domains of their well-being. Essentially, these experiences also foster an intrinsic care for nature.[24]

Criticism

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A 2012 systematic review study showed inconclusive results related to the methodology used in studies.[25]Spending time in forests demonstrated positive health effects, but not enough to generate clinical practice guidelines or demonstratecausality.[26]Additionally, there are concerns from researchers expressing that time spent in nature as a form of regenerative therapy is highly personal and entirely unpredictable.[6]Nature can be harmed in the process of human interaction.[6]

Governmental support and professionalization

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In Finland, researchers recommend five hours a month in nature to reduce depression, alcoholism, andsuicide.[27]South Koreahas a nature therapy program for firefighters withpost-traumatic stress disorder.[27]Canadian physicians can also "prescribe nature" to patients with mental and physical health problems encouraging them to get into nature more.[28]

References

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  1. ^Kotera, Yasuhiro; Richardson, Miles; Sheffield, David (2022)."Effects of Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy on Mental Health: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis".International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.20:337–361.doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00363-4.
  2. ^Siah, Chiew Jiat Rosalind; Goh, Yong Shian; Lee, Jungup; Poon, Sum Nok; Ow Yong, Jenna Qing Yun; Tam, Wai‐San Wilson (2023)."The effects of forest bathing on psychological well‐being: A systematic review and meta‐analysis".International Journal of Mental Health Nursing.32(4): 1038–1054.doi:10.1111/inm.13131.PMID36864583.
  3. ^Satyawan, V E; Rusdiana, O; Latifah, M (2022)."The role of forest therapy in promoting physical and mental health: a systematic review".IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.959:012027.doi:10.1088/1755-1315/959/1/012027.
  4. ^abSchantz P. 2022. Can nature really affect our health? A short review of studies. I: Why Cities Need Large Parks – Large Parks in Large Cities, (ed. R. Murray), London: Routledge
  5. ^abSong, Chorong (August 2016)."Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan".International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.13(8): 781.doi:10.3390/ijerph13080781.PMC4997467.PMID27527193– via EBSCO.
  6. ^abcMacKinnon, J. B. (21 January 2016)."The Problem with Nature Therapy".Nautilus.Retrieved5 April2019.
  7. ^abHansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K (July 2017)."Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review".International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.14(8): 851.doi:10.3390/ijerph14080851.PMC5580555.PMID28788101.
  8. ^O'Donoghue, J. J. (2 May 2018)."Stressed out? Bathing in the woods is just what the doctor ordered".The Japan Times.
  9. ^Onken, Lisa Simon (1998). "Behavioral therapy development and psychological science: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it...".Behavior Therapy.29(4): 539–543.doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(98)80049-X.
  10. ^Plevin, Julia (2018)."From haiku to shinrin-yoku"(PDF).Forest History Today:17, 18.Retrieved7 August2021.
  11. ^Bratman, Gregory N.; Hamilton, J. Paul; Daily, Gretchen C. (February 2012). "The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health".Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.1249(1): 118–136.Bibcode:2012NYASA1249..118B.doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x.PMID22320203.S2CID10902404.
  12. ^abCutillo, A.; Rathore, N.; Reynolds, N.; Hilliard, L.; Haines, H.; Whelan, K.; Madan-Swain, A. (2015). "A Literature Review of Nature-Based Therapy and its Application in Cancer Care".Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture.25(1): 3–15.JSTOR24865255.
  13. ^Copeland CS. The Forest As Physician: Shinrin Yoku.Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge.Nov-Dec 2017
  14. ^Tester-Jones, Michelle; White, Mathew P.; Elliott, Lewis R.; Weinstein, Netta; Grellier, James; Economou, Theo; Bratman, Gregory N.; Cleary, Anne; Gascon, Mireia; Korpela, Kalevi M.; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (6 November 2020)."Results from an 18 country cross-sectional study examining experiences of nature for people with common mental health disorders".Scientific Reports.10(1): 19408.Bibcode:2020NatSR..1019408T.doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75825-9.ISSN2045-2322.PMC7648621.PMID33159132.
  15. ^Rajoo, Keeren Sundara (June 2020). "The physiological and psychosocial effects of forest therapy: A systematic review".Urban For Urban Green.1(2): 64–74.doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126744.S2CID219966519.
  16. ^Piva, Giovanni; Caruso, Lorenzo; Gómez, Alberto Cruz; Calzolari, Marta; Visintin, Emilio Paolo; Davoli, Pietromaria; Manfredini, Fabio; Storari, Alda; Spinozzi, Paola; Lamberti, Nicola (2024). "Effects of forest walking on physical and mental health in elderly populations: a systematic review".Reviews on Environmental Health.39(1): 121–136.doi:10.1515/reveh-2022-0093.PMID36239186.
  17. ^Chalquist, Craig (June 2009). "A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence".Ecopsychology.1(2): 64–74.doi:10.1089/eco.2009.0003.
  18. ^Pedretti-Burls, Ambra (2007)."Ecotherapy: a therapeutic and educative model"(PDF).Journal of Mediterranean Ecology.8:19–25.
  19. ^Phillips, Lindsey (May 2018)."Using Nature as a Therapeutic Partner".Counseling Today.60(11): 26–33.
  20. ^Summers, James K.; Vivian, Deborah N. (3 August 2018)."Ecotherapy – A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review".Frontiers in Psychology.9:1389.doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389.PMC6085576.PMID30123175.
  21. ^Biedenweg, Kelly; Scott, Ryan P.; Scott, Tyler A. (1 June 2017)."How does engaging with nature relate to life satisfaction? Demonstrating the link between environment-specific social experiences and life satisfaction".Journal of Environmental Psychology.50:112–124.doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.02.002.ISSN0272-4944.
  22. ^Humberstone, Barbara; Prince, Heather; Henderson, Karla A. (19 November 2015).Routledge International Handbook of Outdoor Studies.Routledge.ISBN978-1-317-66652-3.
  23. ^Schertz, Kathryn E.; Berman, Marc G. (October 2019)."Understanding Nature and Its Cognitive Benefits".Current Directions in Psychological Science.28(5): 496–502.doi:10.1177/0963721419854100.ISSN0963-7214.S2CID197722990.
  24. ^Adams, Sabirah; Savahl, Shazly (20 October 2017)."Nature as children's space: A systematic review".The Journal of Environmental Education.48(5): 291–321.Bibcode:2017JEnEd..48..291A.doi:10.1080/00958964.2017.1366160.ISSN0095-8964.S2CID148964100.
  25. ^Kamioka, Hiroharu; Tsutani, Kiichiro; Mutoh, Yoshiteru; Honda, Takuya; Shiozawa, Nobuyoshi; Okada, Shinpei; Park, Sang-Jun; Kitayuguchi, Jun; Kamada, Masamitsu; Okuizumi, Hiroyasu; Handa, Shuichi (26 July 2012)."A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on curative and health enhancement effects of forest therapy".Psychology Research and Behavior Management.5:85–95.doi:10.2147/PRBM.S32402.PMC3414249.PMID22888281.
  26. ^Oh, Byeongsang; Lee, Kyung Ju; Zaslawski, Chris; Yeung, Albert; Rosenthal, David; Larkey, Linda; Back, Michael (18 October 2017)."Health and well-being benefits of spending time in forests: systematic review".Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.22(1): 71.Bibcode:2017EHPM...22...71O.doi:10.1186/s12199-017-0677-9.PMC5664422.PMID29165173.
  27. ^abWilliams, Florence (1 January 2016). "This Is Your Brain On Nature".National Geographic.229(1): 49, 54–58, 62–63, 66–67.
  28. ^Forster, Victoria."Canadian Physicians Can Now Prescribe Nature To Patients".Forbes.Retrieved14 July2022.
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