Shinrin Yoku
"Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.
We have always known intuitively that time in nature is good for us. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. For example, many trees give off organic compounds and essential oils that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer and heart disease.
The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:
Lowered blood pressure
Lowered pulse rate
Reduced cortisol levels
Increased vigor
Reduced anger
Reduced depression."
Shinrin-yoku.org
Then, again, some of us just do it because we like it. This is the Mickey Hill Wilderness Area in Nova Scotia yesterday afternoon.
Shinrin Yoku
"Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.
We have always known intuitively that time in nature is good for us. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. For example, many trees give off organic compounds and essential oils that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer and heart disease.
The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:
Lowered blood pressure
Lowered pulse rate
Reduced cortisol levels
Increased vigor
Reduced anger
Reduced depression."
Shinrin-yoku.org
Then, again, some of us just do it because we like it. This is the Mickey Hill Wilderness Area in Nova Scotia yesterday afternoon.