Forest Bathing
The "Why" -- Benefits of Forest Bathing
"Keep a green tree in your heart, and perhaps the singing bird will come."
— Chinese Proverb
Body
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Strengthen immune system with higher natural killer cell activity and anti-cancer protein production
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Improve energy level and reduce fatigue
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Enhance sleep and promote generation of "sleep hormones" melatonin
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Improve visual health by relaxing and restoring eyesight
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Aid and accelerate post-surgery recovery
Mind
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Suppress sympathetic nervous system and lower "fight-or-flight" response activity
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Enhance parasympathetic nervous system and encourage "rest-and-recover" balance activity
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Improve concentration and memory
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Boost problem-solving ability and cognitive
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Reduce risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Heart
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Improve cardiovascular health with lower blood pressure, slower heart rate and higher heart-rate variability
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Enhance mood, lift depression and promote generation of "happiness hormones"
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Alleviate feelings of anxiety and reduce levels of "stress hormones" cortisol and adrenaline
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Mitigate aggression and sudden mood swings
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Instill sense of calmness and serenity
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Rejuvenate to achieve balance and well-being
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Develop connectedness with nature and oneself
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Enhance creativity and provide inspiration
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Strengthen clarity and enhance intuition
Soul
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees."
— Henry David Thoreau
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
“How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass and the rocks!
For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs.”
— Beethoven
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
— John Muir