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. Additionally, it can enhance cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure.[1][2]
Scientists in the 1950s looked into the reasons humans chose to spend time in nature.[3] 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.[4][5][6][7][8]
Although with the concept of Shinrin-yoku and forest bathing rising in popularity during in the late 1980's, in the 6th century BC, Cyrus the Great, who was the founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire; was responsible for planting lush gardens in the middle of a city to increase the health of his people. [9] In the 16th century AD, Paracelsus wrote: "The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician."[10]
120 minutes in nature weekly could improve health and well-being.[11] As little as five minutes in a natural setting, improves mood, self-esteem, and motivation.[12] Nature therapy has a benefit in reducing stress and improving a person's mood.[13][14] People exposed to nature are also more cooperative and pleasant compared to those who are not.[15]
Forest therapy has been linked to some physiological benefits as indicated by neuroimaging and the profile of mood states psychological test.[16]
Horticulture therapy has been linked to general well-being by boosting positive mood and escaping from daily life stressors.[14]
Interaction with nature can decrease stress and depression.[1][14] [4][17] Forest therapy might help stress management for all age groups.[18]
Social horticulture could help with depression and other mental health problems of PTSD, abuse, lonely elderly people, drug or alcohol addicts, blind people, and other people with special needs.[19] Nature therapy could also improve self-management, self-esteem, social relations and skills, socio-political awareness and employability.[20] Nature therapy could reduce aggression and improve relationship skills.[21]
This is especially true due to the mental health damage COVID-19 brought. Nature therapy had significant results when it came to reducing stress, anxiety, and depression influenced by COVID-19.[22]
Nature therapy could help with general medical recovery, pain reduction, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, dementia, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency.[23] Interactions with nature environments enhance social connections, stewardship, sense of place, and increase environmental participation.[24] Connecting with nature also addresses needs such as intellectual capacity, emotional bonding, creativity, and imagination.[25] Overall, there seems to be benefits to time spent in nature including memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control.[26]
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.[27]
A 2012 systematic review study showed inconclusive results related to the methodology used in studies.[28] Spending time in forests demonstrated positive health effects, but not enough to generate clinical practice guidelines or demonstrate causality.[29] Additionally, there are concerns from researchers expressing that time spent in nature as a form of regenerative therapy is highly personal and entirely unpredictable.[3] Nature can be harmed in the process of human interaction.[3]
In Finland, researchers recommend five hours a month in nature to reduce depression, alcoholism, and suicide.[10] Forest therapy has state-backing in Japan.[18] South Korea has a nature therapy program for firefighters with post-traumatic stress disorder.[10] Canadian physicians can also "prescribe nature" to patients with mental and physical health problems encouraging them to get into nature more.[30]
There is still a long way to go with the professionalization of the concepts of nature therapy and forest bathing to be seen as activities that can be used as either preventative or treatment methods for individuals with pysiological or psychological issues. The Association of Forest and Nature Therapy is working towards this professionalization of these practices, by working to offer training and certification for nature therapy programs they offer. [9]