Confessions of a tree-hugger

As my bio attests, I first became interested in Shinrin-yoku, or forest-bathing, as a result of encountering a group of forest-bathers and their guide in a local reserve. I wanted to know what they were doing, why they were doing it, why they were walking so slowly, and why they did not speak to each other; clearly there was a reason behind this process of walking and remaining silent. Because I am academically-inclined, after years of being entrenched in academia and study, I am also inclined to research topics within an inch of their life. I am also predisposed towards evidence-based research; and so, my exploration of Shinrin-yoku began.

Originally, the concept of Shinrin-yoku was introduced by Tomohide Akiyama, director of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982, as a therapeutic antidote to stress-related illnesses throughout Japan, which were becoming more common as a result of overwork and increased urbanisation. Akiyama hoped to encourage Japanese society to get out into forests in order to become more active, healthier, calmer, and happier. However, there were alternative reasons for developing the concept of Shinrin-yoku too. Akiyama wanted to promote the importance of preserving Japan’s forests and natural reserves by encouraging Japanese people to reconnect with, what was once, a traditionally nature-oriented society. Akiyama hoped that by promoting Shinrin-yoku as a wellbeing practice, Japanese society would consider protecting forests more important than consistently logging them for wood and wood products, such as pulp and chips. Ultimately, Akiyama hoped for a form of sustainable forest management based on encouraging Japanese society to value forests for their health benefits as much as their commercial benefits.

Although Akiyama’s reason for coining the term and concept of Shinrin-yoku include forest preservation, my interest focuses solely on the purported health benefits of forest bathing. Much scientific research has been conducted on forest bathing as a preventative ‘medicine’, and I want to incorporate some of this research, in a reader-friendly way, in this blog and to establish its efficacy for myself and you, my readers. Of particular interest is the exhaustive research conducted by Dr Qing Li and his research team who established Forest Medicine in 2012. However, I will also explore other research conducted on forest bathing, mostly to ensure my research focus is not just confined to Li and his team’s findings, and to ensure an unbiased representation of forest bathing and its health and medicinal benefits.

I hope to convince you of the many benefits of Shinrin-yoku via my blog. I hope it inspires you to engage in your own form of forest bathing, wherever that may be.

#shinrinyoku #forestbathing