You can’t overdose on this medicine!

If it wasn’t enough to convince you that Shinrin-yoku – forest bathing – is a great way to  lower your blood pressure, there is now evidence to support many other health and medicinal benefits of forest bathing. Dr Loren Soeiro, who writes for Psychology Today (2022), discusses research that shows forest bathing can decrease the hormones associated with diabetes and obesity and increase the hormones that counter-act those hormones.

The research proves there is a direct causation between stress responses and negative impacts on our endocrine system. Our endocrine system is responsible for releasing and regulating our hormones. When we are stressed we release adrenaline and cortisol; these hormones are called ‘stress hormones’ and they negatively impact our endocrine system. When this happens, we become more prone to metabolic disorders – like diabetes and obesity. However, when we forest bathe, those stress hormones reduce due to a decrease in our stress responses and ‘happier’ hormones increase; this has an immediate, positive affect on our endocrine system.

Phew! There is a lot of good medicine going on there! And the science behind that good medicine is becoming undeniable.

I am not one to judge scientific evidence – after all, I am academically inclined and love a bit of evidence-based research – but it doesn’t take a proverbial  (scientific) ‘genius’ to conclude that being in nature does have positive effects on us. We may not be aware of what these are at a physiological level; we just know it makes us feel calmer, and often gives us a sense of palpable relief. Have you ever instinctively taken a deep breath whilst walking amongst trees, or in nature, and felt instant peace of mind, even if just briefly? If you have, you have instinctively known that being amongst trees and nature is good for you – psychologically (and physically but more on the direct relationship between mind and body in another post).  

So, by simply heading for your own definition of green space and engaging in some silent, gentle walking – and taking some deep breaths – you are getting some happy hormone medicine. Even better; you can’t overdose on this medicine!

#shinrinyoku #forestbathing

Photo by Treehugger: St Gilgin, Austria