Science and Research
Research is at our core
We instinctively know that we generally feel better after spending time in, and connecting with, nature.
At The Forest Bathing Institute we are leading the way in driving UK based research to prove this beyond doubt.
The Healing Power of Nature
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us how vital nature is for our physical and mental wellbeing — not only for healing, but also for prevention. During lockdown, many people instinctively turned to green spaces for comfort and calm.
In fact, a 2020 survey found that 85% of adults in England said being in nature makes them happy, and those who had visited a natural space in the last week reported feeling significantly happier than those who hadn’t.
Backed by Science
Extensive research — especially from Japan — shows that spending time in forests can have measurable health benefits. Trees and plants release phytoncides, natural antimicrobial oils that help protect them from germs.
For humans, these phytoncides have been shown to:
Boost mood and immune function
Regulate blood pressure and heart rate
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve concentration, sleep, and creativity
Potentially support recovery from cancer and depression
In Japan, forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) is already recognised as a clinical therapy and can even be prescribed by doctors.
Forest Bathing+ Research in the UK
Our goal is to build on this global research to make Forest Bathing+ available on prescription through the NHS.
We partnered with University College London (UCL) to run a study involving NHS referrals, mental health charities, and organisations supporting refugees and young people affected by homelessness.
“The effectiveness of the six-week FB+ programme evidenced in this evaluation study indicates that Forest Bathing could be considered a successful GSP wellbeing intervention in the UK…”
— UCL Evaluation Report
The full study results are available for healthcare bodies, government departments, and universities. Please contact us to request.
Continuing the Scientific Journey
We began our first scientific field trials in partnership with the University of Derby in 2019. Since then, we’ve collaborated with around 100 universities, briefed hundreds of doctors (including members of the Harvard faculty), and have multiple studies underway.
Our mission is to continue uncovering the science behind nature’s healing power and identify the most effective ways to deepen our connection with the natural world.
Get Involved
If you have a professional interest in our research or would like to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us to find out more about our ongoing studies and future projects.
PUBLISHED TFBI RESEARCH
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.
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
Natural Volatile Organic Compounds (NVOCs) Are Greater and More Diverse in UK Forests Compared with a Public Garden
This initial preliminary study shows clear differences in the composition of UK ancient woodland air as opposed to a walled garden outdoor environment. It allowed the identification of some common NVOCs within the forest air which were not detected in the control environment. A wide range of NVOCs were identified in the forest air including common terpenoids. This type of study has not been performed in a UK semi-ancient, deciduous forest previously and helps to understand the NVOC air composition within this environment. The study also revealed that exposure for 2 h, the typical duration of a Forest bathing session, would be sufficient time for humans to be exposed to NVOCs and potentially benefit from them in terms of NVOCs immune-regulating properties.
Thailand. A controlled trial comparing the impact of guided forest bathing or a mindful urban walk on heart rate, blood pressure, and mood.
(Co-authored by Prof Li in Japan, a founding figure of forest bathing).
The research provided promising evidence for the potential of guided FB+ to reduce total mood disturbance. Most FB research has been conducted in Japan and South Korea where it is shown to be effective (e.g. Park et al., 2021), this study therefore offers the first evidence for the acceptability and effectiveness of guided FB in Thailand.
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’.
