Nature Therapy

Nature therapy, sometimes referred to as ecotherapy, forest therapy, forest bathing, grounding, earthing, Shinrin-Yoku or Sami Lok, is a practice that describes a broad group of techniques or treatments using nature to improve mental or physical health. Spending time in nature has various physiological benefits such as relaxation and stress reduction. Additionally, it can enhance cardiovascular health and reduce risks of high blood pressure.Schantz P. 2022. Can nature really affect our health? A short review of studies. I: Why Cities Need Large Parks – Large Parks in Large Cities, (ed. R. Murray), London: Routledge
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History

Scientists in the 1950s looked into the reasons humans chose to spend time in nature. There is relatively recent history of the term '' Shinrin-yoku'' () or 'forest bathing' gaining momentum as a term and concept within American culture; the term 'forest bathing' and Shrinrin-yoku was first popularized in Japan by the former head of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Tomohide Akiyama, in 1982 to encourage more people to visit the forests.

Health effects

Mood

Nature therapy has a benefit in reducing stress and improving a person's mood. Even a small amount of interaction with nature, such as having a tree outside one’s home in urban communities, has been found to increase human wellbeing and promote mental health. This may be due to aesthetic reasons, encouragement of physical activity, or general feelings of connection to nature, where the increased proximity to nature creates higher feelings of connectivity.

Forest therapy has been linked to some physiological benefits as indicated by neuroimaging and the profile of mood states psychological test.

Stress and depression

Interaction with nature can decrease stress and depression. Forest therapy might help stress management for all age groups.

Social horticulture could help with depression and other mental health problems of PTSD, abuse, lonely elderly people, drug or alcohol addicts, blind people, and other people with special needs. Nature therapy could also improve self-management, self-esteem, social relations and skills, socio-political awareness and employability. Nature therapy could reduce aggression and improve relationship skills.

Sounds of nature alone can be enough to affect relaxation and enhance positive emotions while reducing negative emotions, including depression and anger. Perceiving nature can lower stress levels and aid in recovery for diastolic and systolic blood pressures.

Other possible benefits

Nature therapy could help with general medical recovery, pain reduction, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, dementia, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency. Interactions with nature environments enhance social connections, stewardship, sense of place, and increase environmental participation. Connecting with nature also addresses needs such as intellectual capacity, emotional bonding, creativity, and imagination. Overall, there seems to be benefits to time spent in nature including memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control.

Research also suggests that childhood experience in nature are crucial for children in their daily lives as it contributes to several developmental outcomes and various domains of their well-being. Essentially, these experiences also foster an intrinsic care for nature.

Criticism

A 2012 systematic review study showed inconclusive results related to the methodology used in studies. Spending time in forests demonstrated positive health effects, but not enough to generate clinical practice guidelines or demonstrate causality. Additionally, there are concerns from researchers expressing that time spent in nature as a form of regenerative therapy is highly personal and entirely unpredictable. Nature can be harmed in the process of human interaction.

Governmental support and professionalization

In Finland, researchers recommend five hours a month in nature to reduce depression, alcoholism, and suicide. South Korea has a nature therapy program for firefighters with post-traumatic stress disorder. Canadian physicians can also "prescribe nature" to patients with mental and physical health problems encouraging them to get into nature more.

References

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Therapy
Nature
Natural environment based therapies
Forestry
Fringe science
Pseudoscience