Science and Research
Research is at our core
PUBLISHED TFBI RESEARCH
New research compares forest bathing and mindfulness
The boundary between mindfulness and forest bathing, two conceptually related therapies, is unclear. Accordingly, this study reports the strengths and challenges, similarities and differences, and barriers and facilitators for both. Both practices were found to benefit well-being, but the seven practitioners involved in the research revealed key barriers to mindfulness. For vulnerable groups experiencing mental health challenges or difficulties achieving a meditative state, mindfulness may introduce well-being risks. By offering a gentler, more intuitive approach that encourages outward attentional focus, forest bathing was found to overcome this barrier. The findings inform how to position both approaches in practice, as a first step towards social prescribing recommendations.
"It is a small study but the conclusions are dramatic, and back up what I have experienced countless times. Forest bathing is a very gentle entry point to deep relaxation for some of the most vulnerable people in society, this gives the NHS a valuable new tool to help millions."
Gary Evans, Director and Co-founder, TFBI
Forest Bathing+ is peer-reviewed
The UK’s first research paper into the health benefits of Forest Bathing+ (TFBI’s own brand of forest bathing) has been published. The paper reports there were improvements in positive emotions, mood disturbance, rumination, nature connection and compassion and 57% of participants showed an increase in heart rate variability. Furthermore, Forest Bathing had equivalence with an established wellbeing intervention. The findings will help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the effects of Forest Bathing and implement it as a feasible social prescription to improve wellbeing.
TFBI aims to replicate Japanese scientific studies
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for nature based therapy. Not just to heal those affected physically and mentally but also as preventative healthcare. We have seen a rise in general appreciation for natural remedies and therapies during the pandemic; humans instinctively know that being in nature is good for us. During the lockdown in England in 2020, a survey showed 85% of adults reported that being in nature makes them happy and those who visited natural space in the last 7 days reported being happier than those that hadn’t.*
There is a wealth of research from around the world, particularly Japan, which proves that being in a forest, or wooded area, really can have a healing effect. It has been shown that trees and plants in these environments release antimicrobial essential oils, called phytoncides. Phytoncides protect plants from germs and have a host of health benefits for people. These oils can boost our mood and immune system function, they have been shown to normalise blood pressure and heart rate, as well as improve stress, anxiety, concentration, sleep and stimulate creativity. There is some evidence that they may even help fight cancer and depression. In some countries like Japan, forest-bathing is already recognised as a clinical therapy and is available on prescription.
Our aim is to replicate the research carried out in Japan to provide sufficient clinical data to support Forest Bathing+ being made available on prescription by NHS England. We want to understand how the different elements of a Forest Bathing+ session improve health and also research the healing properties of different forests and woodland, just as they have done in Japan.
We started the first of our scientific field trials with the University of Derby in 2019. But we haven’t stopped there, we are now liaising with 11 UK based universities and have several studies in the pipeline, with more planned for the future.
We will continue to uncover the science behind the positive effects and understand the most effective ways to actively strengthen our nature connection. If you have a professional interest in our scientific work, please contact us to find out more.
We are dedicated to the advancement of scientific studies into
Forest Bathing+ and mindfulness in nature.
JAPANESE RESEARCH
In Japan they have four decades of research which is so conclusive that both there, and in South Korea, they prescribe forest-bathing sessions on their NHS. It all started in Japan in 1982 when the idea for a national health programme for forest-bathing began. This had a dual purpose. The first was was to encourage people to visit forests for their health, this was based on an intuitive idea that being in the beautiful, green forests of Japan would have a beneficial effect. The second purpose was to help protect the forests; if people were encouraged to visit forests for their health, they would be more likely to want to protect and look after them. At this time a research programme was started to test their theory that the forests were good for health. Fast forward to today and Forest-bathing has become standard practice in Japan. There are now over 70 designated ‘healing forests’ across the country.
Shinrin-yoku - forest-bathing: a total immersion in the forest atmosphere.
Research spearheaded
by Dr Qing Li
Dr Qing Li has been at the forefront of Japanese research into forest-bathing. Studies by his team at the Nippon medical school have shown, 50% of the beneficial health effects of Forest Bathing come from the chemistry of forest air. The health benefits can be attributed to the higher oxygen content of forest air, as well as, and perhaps most importantly, trees expel chemicals that help them fight off diseases, these chemicals can boost our immune system (NK cell count). You can see this being explained in the interview.
Science of ‘Forest Bathing’ – Kirsten Dirksen talks to Dr Qing Li about his research.
There are now significant number of studies from Japan, that proves that Shinrin-yoku can have numerous health benefits:
- Reduce blood pressure
- Lower stress
- Improve cardiovascular and metabolic health
- Help you to lose weight
- Lower blood-sugar levels
- Improve concentration and memory
- Lift depression
- Increase anti-cancer protein production
- Improve pain thresholds
- Improve energy
- Boost the immune system with an increase in the count of the body’s natural killer (NK) cells”
“The good news is that even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health. A two-hour forest bathe will help you to unplug from technology and slow down. It will bring you into the present moment to de-stress and relax you. When you connect to nature through all five of your senses, you begin to draw on the vast array of benefits the natural world provides.”
This is taken from Dr Qing Li’s book ‘Shinrin-yoku, The Art and Science of Forest-Bathing’.