Shinrin-yoku

The first works related to silvotherapy go back to antiquity. According to Pliny the Elder, "the smell of the forest where pitch and resin are collected [therefore coniferous forests] is extremely salutary to the phthicists and to those who, after a long illness, have difficulty recovering".{{Cite book |title=L'homme et la forêt tropicale |date=1999 |publisher=Éd. de Bergier |isbn=978-2-9511840-5-3 |editor-last=Société d'écologie humaine |series=Travaux de la Société d'écologie humaine |location=Châteauneuf-de-Grasse}}

In the Middle Ages, terpenoids present in the forest atmosphere, especially conifers, in the form of oleoresins (these secondary metabolites found in camphor and turpentine, are chemical defences of plants against herbivores) were used to treat certain diseases (analgesic, sedative, bronchodilator, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and relaxing effect).

The Finnish Forest Association along with the Finnish Forest Therapy Centre promotes forest therapy and provides organized activities for forest visitors to practice it. These activities focus on well-being and mind and body recovery. Visitors include various groups, companies, and communities.{{Cite web |title=Home - Metsäterapiakeskus |url=https://www.metsaterapiakeskus.fi/en/home/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.metsaterapiakeskus.fi |language=en-GB}}

Japan, being two thirds covered in forest, is filled with greenery and a vast diversity of trees. Residing there is the Hokkaido region, Japan’s last great wilderness, and the Japanese Alps, filled with mountain ranges and thick pine forests. The term shinrin-yoku was coined in 1982 by Tomohide Akiyama, who was the director of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Dr Qing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Psc8DwAAQBAJ |title=Shinrin-Yoku: The Art and Science of Forest Bathing |date=2018-04-05 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-0-241-34696-9 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Miyazaki |first=Yoshifumi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=115xDwAAQBAJ&q=shinrin+you++history+&pg=PP1 |title=Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing |date=2018-06-12 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-1-60469-879-4 |language=en}} After several studies were conducted in Japan during the 1980s, forest bathing was seen to be an effective therapy method.{{Cite book |last1=Garcia |first1=Hector |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ErNCyAEACAAJ |title=Forest Bathing: The Rejuvenating Practice of Shinrin Yoku |last2=Miralles |first2=Francesc |date=2020 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=978-4-8053-1600-9 |language=en}} Akiyama knew of these studies along with the findings that showed the beneficial health effects of the compounds, such as phytoncides, and of the essential oils that certain trees and plants emitted.{{Cite book |last=Plevin |first=Julia |title=The Healing Magic of Forest Bathing: Finding Calm, Creativity, and Connection in the Natural World |publisher=Ten Speed Press |year=2019 |isbn=9780399582110 |pages=17–19}} Thus, he officially put forward shinrin-yoku as a recognized practice, promoting its benefits to the Japanese public and establishing guidelines for its implementation.

Shinrin-yoku was developed as a response to the increasing urbanization and technological advancements in Japan and was put forth to inspire the Japanese public to reconnect with nature within Japan and as a means to protect the forests.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-18 |title=Forest bathing: what it is and where to do it |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228102040/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Travel |language=en}} It was reasoned that if people spent time in forests and were able to find therapeutic comfort within it, they would want to protect it.

In 2009, the Korea Forest Service opened Saneum National Recreational Forest, the first therapeutic forest. Since then, they have opened more and by 2020, there were 32 therapeutic forests in South Korea.{{Cite journal |last1=Park |first1=Sujin |last2=Kim |first2=Soojin |last3=Kim |first3=Geonwoo |last4=Choi |first4=Yeji |last5=Kim |first5=Eunsoo |last6=Paek |first6=Domyung |date=January 2021 |title=Evidence-Based Status of Forest Healing Program in South Korea |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |language=en |volume=18 |issue=19 |pages=10368 |doi=10.3390/ijerph181910368 |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=8508093 |pmid=34639668 |doi-access=free}}

The U.S. Forest Service put forth forest therapy where there are certified guides for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. These certified guides conduct two hour sessions in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque Rainforest where they bring along participants to experience the powerful effect of forest therapy.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-06 |title=Volunteers experience the power of service and healing in the rainforest |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/volunteers-experience-power-service-and-healing-rainforest |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=US Forest Service |language=en}}

Practicing shinrin-yoku means spending time in nature, amongst the trees and grass, and mindfully engaging within a forest atmosphere or other natural environments. It is usually done by walking through a forest at a slow and gentle pace, without carrying any electronics, and taking the time to soak up the surrounding nature.{{Cite web |last=sal |title=Aromatherapy and shinrin-yoku |url=https://salvatorebattaglia.com.au/blog/162-aromatherapy-and-shinrin-yoku |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=salvatorebattaglia.com.au |language=en-GB}}

It involves using all five senses and letting nature enter through those senses. Some examples of exercising this can include:

• Listening to forest sounds, i.e. birds and insects.
• Touching the ground, the trees, and the leaves.
• Smelling the flowers and other essential oils of the plants and trees.
• Observing the surroundings and scenery
• Tasting the crispiness of the air while breathing

Many experiments have hypothesized the positive effects of shinrin-yoku on the immune system.{{Cite journal |last1=Antonelli |first1=Michele |last2=Donelli |first2=Davide |last3=Carlone |first3=Lucrezia |last4=Maggini |first4=Valentina |last5=Firenzuoli |first5=Fabio |last6=Bedeschi |first6=Emanuela |date=2022-08-03 |title=Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on individual well-being: an umbrella review |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09603123.2021.1919293 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Health Research |language=en |volume=32 |issue=8 |pages=1842–1867 |doi=10.1080/09603123.2021.1919293 |pmid=33910423 |bibcode=2022IJEHR..32.1842A |s2cid=233446922 |issn=0960-3123}} It was shown that shinrin-yoku was associated with increasing levels of natural killer cells, which are important in combating infection.

Shinrin-yoku is linked to a recharging of positive energy, higher energy levels, and a purification of negative thoughts. Breathing the air in a forest environment is purported to maximize the intake of negative ions that help to increase health, mood, mental clarity, cognitive functioning, and energy levels.{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Dr Qing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3tXDwAAQBAJ&q=shinrin+yoku+buddhist |title=Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness |date=2018-04-17 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-525-55985-6 |language=en}} The positive effect of the forest environment has also been demonstrated with the use of virtual reality (VR).{{Cite journal |last1=Clemente |first1=Davide |last2=Romano |first2=Luciano |last3=Zamboni |first3=Elena |last4=Carrus |first4=Giuseppe |last5=Panno |first5=Angelo |date=2024 |title=Forest therapy using virtual reality in the older population: a systematic review |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=14 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1323758 |doi-access=free |pmid=38298360 |issn=1664-1078|pmc=10828037 }}

Participants of conducted studies were seen experiencing a decrease in pulse rate, blood pressure, and concentration of the stress hormone cortisol while walking through a forest for even just a few hours.{{Cite journal |last1=Ideno |first1=Yuki |last2=Hayashi |first2=Kunihiko |last3=Abe |first3=Yukina |last4=Ueda |first4=Kayo |last5=Iso |first5=Hiroyasu |last6=Noda |first6=Mitsuhiko |last7=Lee |first7=Jung-Su |last8=Suzuki |first8=Shosuke |date=2017-08-16 |title=Blood pressure-lowering effect of Shinrin-yoku (Forest bathing): a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=409 |doi=10.1186/s12906-017-1912-z |issn=1472-6882 |pmc=5559777 |pmid=28814305 |doi-access=free }} The power of the essential oils emitted within plant life in forests can reduce stress with the decrease in cortisol concentration.

In 1985, French water and forestry engineer Georges Plaisance published a book on the subject, Forêt et santé.{{Cite book |last=Plaisance |first=Georges |title=Forêt et santé: guide pratique de sylvothérapie: découvrez les effets bienfaisants de la forêt sur le corps et l'esprit |date=1985 |publisher=Éd. Dangles |isbn=978-2-7033-0278-0 |series=Écologie et survie |location=St.-Jean-de-Braye}} However, it is not a scientific publication, but a personal reflection published by a youth publisher.

According to a podcast organized by RTS in 2023, "from a scientific point of view, the understanding of the mechanisms that drive these effects is in its infancy".{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Podcast - Peut-on se soigner avec un arbre? |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/sciences-tech/medecine/14291611-podcast-peuton-se-soigner-avec-un-arbre.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=rts.ch |language=fr}}

According to an article in Le Figaro, the physical activity and relaxation induced by walking would explain these positive effects rather than the environment itself. Some feel that the subject has a strong cultural dimension in Japan, not necessarily reproducible elsewhere.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-13 |title=Faire des câlins aux arbres, une nouvelle escroquerie «médicale» |url=https://sante.lefigaro.fr/article/faire-des-calins-aux-arbres-une-nouvelle-escroquerie-medicale- |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Le Figaro Santé |language=fr}}

• ASMR
• Nature therapy
• Therapeutic garden

Category:Natural environment based therapies

Category:Forestry

Category:Japanese words and phrases