Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention - the Establishment of “Forest Medicine”

Dr QIng Li’s research team has established a new medical science called Forest Medicine. The Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, belonging to the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine and preventive medicine, which studies the effects of forest environments (Forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku) on human health. It has been reported that Forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku has the following beneficial effects on human health: - Shinrin-yoku increases human natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers. - Shinrin-yoku reduces blood pressure and heart rate showing preventive effect on hypertension and heart diseases. - Shinrin-yoku reduces stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary/serum cortisol contributing to stress management. - Shinrin-yoku increases the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduces the activity of sympathetic nerves to stabilize the balance of autonomic nervous system. - Shinrin-yoku improves sleep. - Shinrin-yoku increases the levels of serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. - In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test, Shinrin-yoku reduces the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increases the score for vigor, showing preventive effects on depression. - Shinrin-yoku may apply to rehabilitation medicine - Shinrin-yoku in city parks also has benefits on human health. - Shinrin-yoku may have a preventive effect on COVID-19 by boosting immune function and by reducing mental stress. Taken together, these findings suggest that Shinrin-yoku may have potential preventive effects on non-communicable diseases.