The National Horticulture Society (NHS) Chelsey Flower Show 2024 winner for Best Show Garden was the Forest Bathing garden. Forest Bathing is an ancient Japanese practice called Shinrin-yoku which basically means “bathing in the forest atmosphere and reconnecting with nature through our senses” (rhs.org.uk). The garden was designed by Ula Maria for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of the UK “to awaken imagination and innate connection to nature by bridging a gap between us and the natural world” and will be moved to provide “a place of refuge to patients, their families, and clinicians at the time of diagnosis and beyond.“ (rhs.org.uk).
The use of nature as a coping mechanism is something that I talk about in my paper, “A Theoretical Framework of a Bionomic Approach to Improve Individual and Organizational Outcomes” (I know, catchy title).” You can read it here. Nature has historically been an under appreciated and therefore, underutilized coping mechanism. We have finally started to see a more widespread appreciation for nature as a coping mechanism, especially since the pandemic when many people turned to nature to improve the mood, physical health, mental health, and well-being.
Forest bathing is a multimodal sensory experience & coping mechanism.
“Take a moment to appreciate your surroundings and listen to the sounds around you: twittering birds, rustling bush, trickling streams. Breathe in clean, fragrant air and soak in the sights of the textured ground and the shapes of the leaves in the sky. Touch the soft, green moss carpeting the shaded stones, or the rough bark on the trees. Let the stillness around you influence your state of mind and make you forget the constant motion of the city. This is a sensory experience” (japan.travel).
“Even Japanese doctors promote forest bathing as a relaxing break from hectic urban life” (japan.travel).
“The many health benefits of forest bathing”:
“Forest bathing has become a vital part of preventative healthcare in Japan. The results of Japanese studies have shown forest bathing improves sleep quality, mood, ability to focus, and stress levels. Chronic stress can contribute to the development of ailments like anxiety, depression, and insomnia, to name a few. It can also contribute to physiological problems, like high blood pressure, muscle tension, and lowered immune response. Spending time in nature, away from modern technology and big cities can improve your physical and mental health by reducing the effects of stress on your body. Prescribed forest bathing in Japan has led to a healthier lifestyle for people of all ages.” (japan.travel)
Forest bathing is described in the book “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative” by Florence Williams (2017). She describes a depression that fell over her with a move from a nature filled location to a more urban one. So, she explored “the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain” (Williams, 2017, back-cover). The book is a wonderful introduction to the research and a nice guide to get started reaping the benefits of nature. She speaks with many of the heavy hitters working in the field while visiting some beautiful locations.
Williams (2017) explains how the Japanese Forestry Agency has invested in research and is designating one hundred forest therapy sites throughout the country, utilizing “68% of the country’s landmass”. This is a great idea for all countries to follow. It is both beneficial to people and a way to combat climate change through preservation of forests. It may also be a way to monetize forests. Working in conjunction with doctors, people can become educated to appreciate the relationship between nature and human health and happiness. Educating people about the benefits of conservation of wild places to combat climate change by reducing carbon, cleaning the air, reducing flooding, cooling the air, providing shelter for biodiversity, and understanding the specific benefits of certain natural features.
Williams (2017) goes on to describe several studies that have found time in nature reduces stress and blood pressure and improves the immune system. Specifically, certain experiences increase the production of NK cells which kill cancer cells. To read more on K-cells and NK cells see: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Williams (2017) talks to Qing Li “an immunologist in the department of environmental medicine at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo” who hypothesizes that our immune response is related to our body’s response to smelling turpenes, pinenes, limonenes and even soil bacterium which increase the production of NK cells. He apparently uses cypress oil in a humidifier at home, ever since his findings.
Government funding of research into the benefits of this free resource, nature, and then using nature to support the health and happiness of its citizens is a great idea. When I wrote “A Theoretical Framework of a Bionomics Approach to Improve Individual and Organizational Outcomes” (I know, catchy title), I looked at different disciplines’ research and different countries’ perspectives and policies on the topic of nature. You can read that article below in the post, “Ecopsychology and Bionomics” or go straight to the link here.
Some cultures have a strong respect for nature and the beneficial effects on people. Some governments have years of scientific research on the beneficial effects of nature on society. And several disciplines have research from their perspectives further documenting the beneficial effects of nature on health and happiness. We should support governments that promote and utilize this information. It will benefit people who will benefit communities and societies which will benefit the earth – which in turn will benefit people again. It’s circular and benefits everyone and everything in the end. Through mere appreciation and protection of these resources – what an easy way to combat climate change.
ResearchMoore 