Walk into the woods, look around, listen to the quietness and breathe the fresh air.
The easy and inexpensive therapy to let the stress slide off you and improve your well-being. It sounds almost too good to be true, but it really works!
The theory
The therapy we are talking about here is forest bathing. This remedy for feeling (mentally) better by getting out into nature has been done for centuries, but in recent years it has been coming back into focus.
More than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the second-largest metropolis in the world. This is where forest bathing originated in 1982 to encourage people to get out into nature for walks more often. In the following years, forest bathing grew into a therapy and spread to other countries. Now it is popular in much of the world.
One of my favorite writers, Ellen White, mentioned the benefits of the outdoors and trees when she wrote this in 1905: "How grateful to the invalids weary of city life, the glare of many lights, and the noise of the streets, are the quiet and freedom of the country! How eagerly do they turn to the scenes of nature! How glad would they be to sit in the open air, rejoice in the sunshine, and breathe the fragrance of tree and flower! There are life-giving properties in the balsam of the pine, in the fragrance of the cedar and the fir, and other trees also have properties that are health restoring." [1]
Wisdom from over 100 years ago, but still as fresh as a green leaf. What she says is now supported by today's science.
There have been scientific studies on the positive health effects of forest bathing. The results of these studies are impressive. Among the effects of taking a forest bath are the following:
it increases the number and activity of natural killer cells. These are a specific type of white blood cells and they are part of the immune system. Their job is to destroy infected cells and cancer cells;
it lowers blood pressure and heart rate and has a preventive effect against high blood pressure and heart disease;
it stimulates the rest and recovery system and calms the fight/flight system. In other words, it balances the autonomic nervous system;
it reduces stress hormones, such as adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol;
it lowers scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion;
it improves sleep. [2]
All these findings suggest that quiet walking in the woods is a boon to your well-being.
How does forest bathing work?
Forest bathing is experiencing God's creation with body and mind. The effect of forest bathing comes to you by being in nature and opening your senses. It is the whole that gives the positive effect on your health.
Nature
In forest bathing, you are exercising outside, but the focus is not on athletic performance. Still, visiting nature can contribute to your vitality. When you have vitality, you experience a sense of enthusiasm, vibrancy and physical and mental energy.
Just from seeing beautiful nature scenes in a photograph gives an increase in subjective vitality. Being outside yourself is associated with more vitality, due to the presence of natural elements. [3]
Fresh air
The wonderful smell of the forest is an important part of therapy. Trees emit several substances, including phytoncides. The trees use them to deter insects, bacteria and diseases. By emitting phytoncides, oak trees and pines, among others, envelop themselves in a protective atmosphere that we can also enjoy. These substances have properties that induce relaxation and suppress mental fatigue. Performance and mood can also improve by deeply breathing the air in wooded areas. [4]
Another component of fresh forest air is negative ions. That doesn't sound positive, but it is. Negative ions in the air are good. After a big (thunderstorm) shower, at the beach, at a waterfall or in the middle of a forest, there are many molecules or atoms with a negative charge in the air. These capture the positive ions away. The air is then cleaner.
Senses
Breathe in that healthy forest air and take in the scents of flowers and trees. Crush a fragrant herb and smell it during your walk. Open your eyes and ears when you are in the forest, too. Look at the details of the tiny flowers in the grass, the tall treetops and everything in between. Listen to the wind rustling through the trees, the birds singing and the babbling of the stream. Put your hands on a big tree and feel the texture of the bark.
Gods second book
The Bible is the Word of God; nature is called the second book of God. During His life on earth, Jesus spent a lot of time in nature. To unwind and pray to His heavenly Father. His teachings were also often held outdoors. Jesus then used elements of His creation to convey spiritual truths. Later, these lessons would be brought back into the memory of His hearers through things in nature.
In this way, we may also look at the forest. Everywhere you see symbols and images of God, His character and eternal truths: His presence, creativity, greatness, wisdom, love, care, provision and eternal promises. What spiritual lessons does the Lord have to say to you through the things you see, hear, feel while forest bathing?
Let's go!
Near you, I am sure there is a green forest too. Don't wait any longer, plan to visit it and improve your well-being. Put your phone on silent and take the time to enjoy forest bathing with all your senses. Experience the positive effects on your body and mind. The beautiful memories of the forest will encourage you to go back as often as possible.
Sources
[1] 'Ministry of Healing', chapter 19, Ellen White
[2] Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention -the Establishment of "Forest Medicine": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36328581/
[3] Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494409000838?via%3Dihub
[4] Forest Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Effects on Human Health: A State-of-the-Art Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32906736/
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