2023-06-30 14:54:37
June 30, 2023
In Japan, where sylvotherapy – tree therapy – was born, it is regarding shinrin-yoku. The Anglo-Saxons evoke them, a forest bathing or “forest bathing”, a particularly telling expression. Which goes beyond the image of hugging trees!
Like nature as a whole, the forest environment constitutes a privileged place of resources. Many studies have also shown this, such as this Japanese study published in 2007: it highlights a soothing effect of the forest – shinrin-yoku – with people suffering from chronic stress.
More generally, if the authors do not rule out risks of bias, a meta-analysis (28 studies) of 2019 also ruled on many potential benefits of these forest baths: on “anxiety and depression” therefore but not only. They also cite “cardiovascular function, metabolic, immune and even inflammatory indices”. And the authors specify: Forest bathing can regulate blood pressure, reduce blood sugar, regulate endocrine activity, relieve mental disorders, fight cancer, enhance immunity and treat respiratory diseases ».
Thermoregulatory effect in koalas
So many good reasons to take refuge at times in the forest! You will thus have the opportunity to activate (almost) all your senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and why not taste? And also to perceive variations according to the seasons. If you feel like it, you can pause to hug a tree or place the palms of your hands on its trunk. Something to feel and become one with this nature, for a peaceful moment. And be aware that a study conducted with koalas even showed that this hugging gesture had a thermoregulatory effect. It would thus lower their body temperature.
Source : Public Health. 2007 Jan;121(1):54-63. – Environ Health Prev Med. 2019; 24: 70. – Temperature (Austin). 2015 Jan-Mar; 2(1): 33–35.
Written by: David Picot – Edited by: Emmanuel Ducreuzet
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