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Nature therapy

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"forest bathing" redirects here. For the Japanese practice, see Shinrin-yoku.

Nature therapy, sometimes referred to as ecotherapy, forest therapy, forest bathing, grounding, earthing, Shinrin-Yoku or Sami Lok, is a practice that describes a broad group of techniques or treatments using nature to improve mental or physical health. Spending time in nature has various physiological benefits such as relaxation and stress reduction.[1][2][3] Additionally, it can enhance cardiovascular health and reduce risks of high blood pressure.[4][5]

History

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Scientists in the 1950s looked into the reasons humans chose to spend time in nature.[6] There is relatively recent history of the term Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) or 'forest bathing' gaining momentum as a term and concept within American culture; the term 'forest bathing' and Shrinrin-yoku was first popularized in Japan by a man named Tomohide Akiyama, who was the head of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; this happened in 1982 to encourage more people to visit the forests.[7][5][8][9][10]

Health effects

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Mood

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Nature therapy has a benefit in reducing stress and improving a person's mood.[11][12] Even a small amount of interaction with nature, such as having a tree outside one’s home in urban communities, has been found to increase human wellbeing and promote mental health.[13] This may be due to aesthetic reasons, encouragement of physical activity, or general feelings of connection to nature, where the increased proximity to nature creates higher feelings of connectivity.[13]

Forest therapy has been linked to some physiological benefits as indicated by neuroimaging and the profile of mood states psychological test.[14]

Stress and depression

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Interaction with nature can decrease stress and depression.[4][12][7][15] Forest therapy might help stress management for all age groups.[16]

Social horticulture could help with depression and other mental health problems of PTSD, abuse, lonely elderly people,[17] drug or alcohol addicts, blind people, and other people with special needs.[18] Nature therapy could also improve self-management, self-esteem, social relations and skills, socio-political awareness and employability.[19] Nature therapy could reduce aggression and improve relationship skills.[20]

Other possible benefits

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Nature therapy could help with general medical recovery, pain reduction, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, dementia, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency.[21] Interactions with nature environments enhance social connections, stewardship, sense of place, and increase environmental participation.[22] Connecting with nature also addresses needs such as intellectual capacity, emotional bonding, creativity, and imagination.[23] Overall, there seems to be benefits to time spent in nature including memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control.[24]

Research also suggests that childhood experience in nature are crucial for children in their daily lives as it contributes to several developmental outcomes and various domains of their well-being. Essentially, these experiences also foster an intrinsic care for nature.[25]

Criticism

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A 2012 systematic review study showed inconclusive results related to the methodology used in studies.[26] Spending time in forests demonstrated positive health effects, but not enough to generate clinical practice guidelines or demonstrate causality.[27] Additionally, there are concerns from researchers expressing that time spent in nature as a form of regenerative therapy is highly personal and entirely unpredictable.[6] Nature can be harmed in the process of human interaction.[6]

Governmental support and professionalization

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In Finland, researchers recommend five hours a month in nature to reduce depression, alcoholism, and suicide.[28] South Korea has a nature therapy program for firefighters with post-traumatic stress disorder.[28] Canadian physicians can also "prescribe nature" to patients with mental and physical health problems encouraging them to get into nature more.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Kotera, Yasuhiro; Richardson, Miles; Sheffield, David (2022). "Effects of Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy on Mental Health: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 20: 337–361. doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00363-4.
  2. ^ Siah, Chiew Jiat Rosalind; Goh, Yong Shian; Lee, Jungup; Poon, Sum Nok; Ow Yong, Jenna Qing Yun; Tam, Wai‐San Wilson (2023). "The effects of forest bathing on psychological well‐being: A systematic review and meta‐analysis". International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 32 (4): 1038–1054. doi:10.1111/inm.13131. PMID 36864583.
  3. ^ Satyawan, V E; Rusdiana, O; Latifah, M (2022). "The role of forest therapy in promoting physical and mental health: a systematic review". IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 959: 012027. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/959/1/012027.
  4. ^ a b Schantz P. 2022. Can nature really affect our health? A short review of studies. I: Why Cities Need Large Parks – Large Parks in Large Cities, (ed. R. Murray), London: Routledge
  5. ^ a b Song, Chorong (August 2016). "Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 13 (8): 781. doi:10.3390/ijerph13080781. PMC 4997467. PMID 27527193 – via EBSCO.
  6. ^ a b c MacKinnon, J. B. (21 January 2016). "The Problem with Nature Therapy". Nautilus. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b Hansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K (July 2017). "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (8): 851. doi:10.3390/ijerph14080851. PMC 5580555. PMID 28788101.
  8. ^ O'Donoghue, J. J. (2 May 2018). "Stressed out? Bathing in the woods is just what the doctor ordered". The Japan Times.
  9. ^ Onken, Lisa Simon (1998). "Behavioral therapy development and psychological science: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it...". Behavior Therapy. 29 (4): 539–543. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(98)80049-X.
  10. ^ Plevin, Julia (2018). "From haiku to shinrin-yoku" (PDF). Forest History Today: 17, 18. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  11. ^ Bratman, Gregory N.; Hamilton, J. Paul; Daily, Gretchen C. (February 2012). "The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1249 (1): 118–136. Bibcode:2012NYASA1249..118B. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x. PMID 22320203. S2CID 10902404.
  12. ^ a b Cutillo, A.; Rathore, N.; Reynolds, N.; Hilliard, L.; Haines, H.; Whelan, K.; Madan-Swain, A. (2015). "A Literature Review of Nature-Based Therapy and its Application in Cancer Care". Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture. 25 (1): 3–15. JSTOR 24865255.
  13. ^ a b Ordóñez, Camilo; Kendal, Dave; Davern, Melanie; Conway, Tenley (June 2024). "Having a tree in front of one's home is associated with GREATER subjective wellbeing in adult residents in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada". Environmental Research. 250: 118445. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.118445.
  14. ^ Copeland CS. The Forest As Physician: Shinrin Yoku. Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge. Nov-Dec 2017
  15. ^ Tester-Jones, Michelle; White, Mathew P.; Elliott, Lewis R.; Weinstein, Netta; Grellier, James; Economou, Theo; Bratman, Gregory N.; Cleary, Anne; Gascon, Mireia; Korpela, Kalevi M.; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark (6 November 2020). "Results from an 18 country cross-sectional study examining experiences of nature for people with common mental health disorders". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 19408. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1019408T. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75825-9. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 7648621. PMID 33159132.
  16. ^ Rajoo, Keeren Sundara (June 2020). "The physiological and psychosocial effects of forest therapy: A systematic review". Urban For Urban Green. 1 (2): 64–74. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126744. S2CID 219966519.
  17. ^ Piva, Giovanni; Caruso, Lorenzo; Gómez, Alberto Cruz; Calzolari, Marta; Visintin, Emilio Paolo; Davoli, Pietromaria; Manfredini, Fabio; Storari, Alda; Spinozzi, Paola; Lamberti, Nicola (2024). "Effects of forest walking on physical and mental health in elderly populations: a systematic review". Reviews on Environmental Health. 39 (1): 121–136. doi:10.1515/reveh-2022-0093. PMID 36239186.
  18. ^ Chalquist, Craig (June 2009). "A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence". Ecopsychology. 1 (2): 64–74. doi:10.1089/eco.2009.0003.
  19. ^ Pedretti-Burls, Ambra (2007). "Ecotherapy: a therapeutic and educative model" (PDF). Journal of Mediterranean Ecology. 8: 19–25.
  20. ^ Phillips, Lindsey (May 2018). "Using Nature as a Therapeutic Partner". Counseling Today. 60 (11): 26–33.
  21. ^ Summers, James K.; Vivian, Deborah N. (3 August 2018). "Ecotherapy – A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review". Frontiers in Psychology. 9: 1389. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389. PMC 6085576. PMID 30123175.
  22. ^ Biedenweg, Kelly; Scott, Ryan P.; Scott, Tyler A. (1 June 2017). "How does engaging with nature relate to life satisfaction? Demonstrating the link between environment-specific social experiences and life satisfaction". Journal of Environmental Psychology. 50: 112–124. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.02.002. ISSN 0272-4944.
  23. ^ Humberstone, Barbara; Prince, Heather; Henderson, Karla A. (19 November 2015). Routledge International Handbook of Outdoor Studies. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-66652-3.
  24. ^ Schertz, Kathryn E.; Berman, Marc G. (October 2019). "Understanding Nature and Its Cognitive Benefits". Current Directions in Psychological Science. 28 (5): 496–502. doi:10.1177/0963721419854100. ISSN 0963-7214. S2CID 197722990.
  25. ^ Adams, Sabirah; Savahl, Shazly (20 October 2017). "Nature as children's space: A systematic review". The Journal of Environmental Education. 48 (5): 291–321. Bibcode:2017JEnEd..48..291A. doi:10.1080/00958964.2017.1366160. ISSN 0095-8964. S2CID 148964100.
  26. ^ Kamioka, Hiroharu; Tsutani, Kiichiro; Mutoh, Yoshiteru; Honda, Takuya; Shiozawa, Nobuyoshi; Okada, Shinpei; Park, Sang-Jun; Kitayuguchi, Jun; Kamada, Masamitsu; Okuizumi, Hiroyasu; Handa, Shuichi (26 July 2012). "A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on curative and health enhancement effects of forest therapy". Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 5: 85–95. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S32402. PMC 3414249. PMID 22888281.
  27. ^ Oh, Byeongsang; Lee, Kyung Ju; Zaslawski, Chris; Yeung, Albert; Rosenthal, David; Larkey, Linda; Back, Michael (18 October 2017). "Health and well-being benefits of spending time in forests: systematic review". Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 22 (1): 71. Bibcode:2017EHPM...22...71O. doi:10.1186/s12199-017-0677-9. PMC 5664422. PMID 29165173.
  28. ^ a b Williams, Florence (1 January 2016). "This Is Your Brain On Nature". National Geographic. 229 (1): 49, 54–58, 62–63, 66–67.
  29. ^ Forster, Victoria. "Canadian Physicians Can Now Prescribe Nature To Patients". Forbes. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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