Do you like being outside? Whether you could camp your life away or you don’t travel far from your backyard, this article will be enlightening to you.
Forest bathing, called shinrinyoku in Japanese, means a “leisurely visit to a forest.” The Japanese understand that immersing ourselves in nature, away from traffic, sedentary office jobs, stressful relationships, and toxins, gives ourselves an opportunity to heal.
I believe our removal from the outdoors has taken a toll on the human race. Honestly, I do. As a whole, I think it has lessened our appreciation for the Earth. Does anyone see the shifting clouds or a singing bird as a beautiful miracle these days?
I believe this has caused us to have less appreciation and understanding of the food we eat. Most people are not eating “nose to tail,” which is respectful to the animal and not wasteful. Many are unaware of the intensive labor that it takes to farm, as they purchase meat from around the world in their grocery store in a neat package.
I believe that our lack of time outdoors has negatively affected our health. We are spending most hours indoors and for those of us that experience winter, that time is almost entirely indoors.
Of course, we are meant to spend our lives outdoors. Before we had modern homes we survived in caves, tents, huts, igloos, etc. (covering all the bases here!) Fresh air is good for us, as is walking on the Earth barefoot, and so is touching dirt. In the rest of this post I will be sharing a summary of some of the compelling evidence that demonstrates how time in nature benefits our health.
Forest Bathing Studies in Japan
Aim: to study the role of forest bathing on immune function
The details:
- Men and women spent 3 days and 2 nights in forest areas (There were three studies total discussed in this paper, (1) men who went on a forest bathing trip, (2) men who went on a forest bathing and city trip, and (3) women who went forest bathing).
- Several blood and urine indicators were measured before the trip (the control) and on days 2 and 3 of the trip and 7 and 30 days following the trip.
- Indicators measured: Natural killer cell* activity, the numbers of natural killer cells, various lymphocytes* in the blood, and the concentration of urinary adrenaline (can be an indicator of stress)
*Lymphocytes are white blood cells, which fight pathogens.
*Natural killer cells are a type of immune cells that fight off pathogens.
Results:
- The mean of the natural killer cell activity and numbers and lymphocytes were significantly higher compared to the control levels, before the trip occurred.
- The concentration of urinary adrenaline on forest bathing days were significantly lower than what was measured not the control days.
- The increased natural killer cell count lasted more than 30 days after the trip.
Additionally, when a similar trip was implemented but in a city, participants did not experience an increase in number of natural killer cells or activity or a change in lymphocytes.
What does this mean?
This data is a great thing for us. It means simply by spending more time outside we can actually be healthier.
Natural killer cells and lymphocytes are part of our immune system’s defense team to kill off the bad guys. Being in nature increased these cells compared to when the participants were tested on a normal day in their lives!
Additionally, the urinary adrenaline is a marker of stress, which was decreased when the participants spent time in the forest.
Bottom line: As much as you can, spend more time outside! Simple things can help, like reading, listening to music, or a podcast outside instead of indoors. On nice days do what you can outside (or here’s an idea, just relax!) and do chores indoors once it has become too dark or cold. If you have children, encourage them to play outside most of the time with a small portion of time on electronics.
So, what changes can you make in favor of your health? Whether it is something small, like going for a daily walk or a weekly hike, or maybe camping in the warmer months, let us know what you will do.
I love your blog, forest bathing makes me feel closer to nature and it improves my health too, it gives me positive emotions.
I feel the same way! I naturally feel more relaxed and in the zone.