Shinrin-Yoku
Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese activity of ‘forest bathing’ in nature that has been shown to benefit physical and mental health due to the natural aromatherapy omitted by trees. In his shinrin-yoku studies, Dr Qing Li discovered that trees contain healing properties from volatile, aromatic oils they release, known as phytoncides. These are essential plant nutrients that protect the tree from pathogenic invasion and contain antimicrobial properties that boost not only the immunity of the tree but also of humans who forest bathe (walk) amongst them.
The tree aromatherapy oils discovered to benefit the human immune system include limonene (citrus) and pinene (pine). Li found that these oils enhanced Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and increased levels of anti-cancer proteins. NK cells have been reported to kill cancerous or virus infected cells. Another advantage to immunity from forest bathing is due to reducing stress, of which the negative effects of raised stress hormones impact directly on the immune system. Other benefits found from taking part in shinrin-yoku include:
Improves sleep
Increases energy
Decreases anxiety, depression and anger
Reduces stress and brings about a state of relaxation
Lowers blood pressure
Encourages parasympathetic nervous system activation i.e. the ‘rest & digest’ nervous system
Lowers the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline
Reduces negative emotions
Raises positive emotions
Walking amongst trees has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing blood glucose levels in diabetics.
The concept of tree aromatherapy from phytoncides to heal the body naturally seems appealing. Indeed, the phytonutrients (plant nutrients) we consume in some fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices also offer healing and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, it is no surprise that trees can provide us with healing and boost the immune system from the aromatic oils released. The essential oils used in an aromatherapy massage penetrate through the skin and enter the blood stream, promoting healing from the massage techniques and from the properties in the oil being taken up by the body. A walk in nature, amongst trees could be the mental massage a stressed-out mind is searching for.
But what if you live in the middle of a city centre? Li’s evidence suggests that walking in the city did not have the same effect as the aromatic oils were not detected in the air. However, this part of the study did not include trees, neither did it take place in a city park or green space where even the visual, auditory and touch of a tree can feel soothing. Trees can seem therapeutic by sight, sound and feel- not just from the chemistry. The calming sound of a gentle breeze whistling through the leaves, the light piercing the branches above- can feel relaxing to the nervous system and relieve the tension of stress in the body and mind. Tree therapy as a form of stress reduction is certainly a win to the immune system.
Can you find your own protective tree as a place of calm in your day? Even if you live in a city centre, many pavements have trees dotted along them- is there a nearby tree you can stand under for a few moments every day? Perhaps you can walk to a park or green space where you can take your daily exercise as shinrin-yoku and immerse yourself for ten minutes to be still and just breathe. A place where you can escape, feel calm and stare at the sky through the branches. Take your coffee, take your matcha but don’t take your phone and check emails. That would be counter productive to shinrin-yoku.
A tree aromatherapy massage for the soul.
Walk & Talk in Nature Group
