Do you enjoy being out in nature and find that it benefits your mental, physical, and emotional health? Then you’ll probably love forest bathing. This idea is more than just a new trend that’s popular among celebrities and alternative health practitioners. It’s actually a very old idea that is now being backed by numerous scientific studies.
Human beings evolved to live in nature, not in cities. Unfortunately, too many people in the modern world spend all their time inside, tethered to their devices. This is why deliberately getting out in nature is such a good way to release the stresses of the modern world and improve your health and wellbeing.
So if you’re interested in getting more from your nature experiences, then here’s a guide to this new way of being in the natural world.
Forest bathing sounds like it involves having a bath in the forest, but it’s actually not that at all. The idea comes from Japan. In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries coined the term shinrin-yoku, which refers to absorbing the forest atmosphere.
What it basically means is spending quality time in nature - no baths needed. And it’s a flexible practice too. If you’re a runner, then you can run in nature, but if you’re more the sit-and-relax type, then that’s a beneficial form of forest bathing as well. The most important thing with this practice is to spend time in nature while absorbing the sights and sounds. It doesn’t matter as much what activities you do there, as long as you’re mindful about the experience.
Nature makes people feel good, which is why even the biggest cities in the world have numerous green spaces. The sights, the sounds, the smells - all can be a source of comfort, reduce your stress levels, help you think more clearly, and give you energy.
Spending time in nature also has a number of health benefits. It can:
There are a number of different factors that could be responsible for these health benefits. For starters, relaxing in nature causes increases in parasympathetic nerve activity. The parasympathetic nervous system activates when your body is at rest. It helps boost metabolism, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and stimulates better digestion.
The trees themselves might also directly cause some of these health benefits. Trees release compounds into the air known as phytoncides, which can help reduce stress levels. Studies have shown that these compounds can also enhance the activity of white blood cells known as natural killer cells, which will help support a healthy immune system.
Multiple studies support the idea that being in nature heals, soothes, and increases feelings of well-being. It may also help lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation, and manage stress.
You don’t have to head out into the jungle to practice forest bathing. Just take a trip to your closest park, beach, trail, or another natural setting. Put aside around 20 minutes to spend in nature and try to do it every day.
For the best effects, turn off your phone so you aren’t interrupted, and take a few deep breaths before focusing on your senses. What can you hear? What can you see and smell? Spend your time observing everything that’s around you. You can sit down or take a relaxed walk and let your senses explore the natural area and indulge in a few minutes of peace and relaxation.
You can also do a range of activities in the forest while you’re there if you’re not the type to just sit and look at the trees. Some activities that people enjoy doing during their time in nature are:
Don't be tempted to "be productive" though. Part of what makes forest bathing effective is being where you are, rather than striving to reach some goal.
While you’re there, make sure that you’re aware of your safety at the same time. Wear clothing that’s appropriate to your surroundings, protect your skin from the sun and insect bites, and stay aware of any safety hazards.
If you’re stressed or suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), then forest bathing could be a good way to support your recovery. AFS is caused by chronic, ongoing stress that causes the overuse of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. The NEM consists of key organs and systems organized into six related circuits.
The NEM stress response activates when you’re stressed and prompts the release of cortisol from your adrenal glands. The resulting high cortisol levels make changes in your body’s organs and systems, preparing you to cope with the cause of the stress.
The NEM stress response is only meant to be active for short periods. But in the modern world, it’s often active on an ongoing basis because of chronic stress. This causes the NEM stress response to develop dysfunctions. The high cortisol levels also cause poor health, uncomfortable symptoms, and ongoing health issues.
The key to recovering from AFS is to reduce your stress levels - and spending time in nature can be very good for that. It will also help to rebalance and improve the health of your Inflammation Circuit, which can become very unbalanced in AFS and cause problems that worsen over time.
Under chronic stress, the Inflammation Circuit is often one of the first circuits to show imbalances and malfunctions. The Inflammation Circuit consists of the gut, the microbiome (or the balance of bacteria in your body), and the immune system. These three components work together and separately to help fight off infections and keep your body healthy. The Inflammation Circuit is designed to help protect your body against invaders and intruders. It does this by sending the immune system to create inflammation, which helps expel these invaders.
Inflammation is essential to the health of your body. But when it becomes chronic and ongoing, it’s associated with a range of health threats from cancer to heart attacks. This can result in issues like:
Regular forest bathing may help alleviate some of the issues caused by a malfunctioning Inflammation circuit. Here’s how:
Studies have shown that spending time in nature can help support a healthy immune system. Stress and AFS are both connected to immune system dysfunction. This can cause chronic inflammation, ongoing infections, and may even be associated with certain autoimmune disorders. Spending time in nature by forest bathing may help to correct an overactive immune system. This will help your body to fight off any infections and may lower inflammation levels.
Stress is associated with issues like high blood pressure, a high heart rate, and high cortisol levels. These markers of stress indicate an overactive NEM stress response and increase chronic inflammation. This puts you at a higher risk for serious health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
By helping to reduce these stress markers, forest bathing will help ease the overactivity of the NEM stress response. This will help lower inflammation and reduce your risk for related health problems.
Getting out of the concrete jungle and spending time in nature is one of the best things you can do for your health. This is why forest bathing isn’t just a trend; it’s a guide for improving your health and the quality of your life at the same time. Here’s how to do it properly and so that you get the most from the experience:
For more natural, safe, and enjoyable ideas for improving your health and reducing inflammation, talk to our team at +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here.
Forest bathing sounds complicated but it’s actually very simple. It’s the act of spending more time in nature, immersing yourself in the sounds, smells, and sights of the natural world. And it’s one of the best ways to improve your health and quality of life.
