Scientific Evidence for benefits of forest therapy
Harvard Health
US Forest Service
Cleveland Clinic
Can forest therapy enhance health and well-being?
Overview of Forest Therapy
Benefits of Forest Therapy include:
- Lowered cortisol levels
- Improved health and well-being
- Improved attention
- Improved depression and anxiety
- Lowered blood pressure
- Decreased inflammation, protection against infection
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-forest-therapy-enhance-health-and-well-being-2020052919948
Cleveland Clinic
US Forest Service
Cleveland Clinic
Forest Bathing: What It Is and Its Potential Benefits
- Greater levels of cancer-killing proteins and immune cells
- Improves stress, anxiety and depression
- Positive impact on the oxygen levels in your brain
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-forest-therapy-can-be-good-for-your-body-and-mind
US Forest Service
US Forest Service
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Forest Therapy Trails: A Conceptual Framework and Scoping
Review of Research
- Health outcomes include psychological and physiological improvements in emotions, stress, and relaxation
- Improvement in cognitive and behavioral changes
- Improvements in people as individuals and their relationships with the human and nonhuman world
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2022/nrs_2022_gobster_002.pdf
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Immerse Yourself In A Forest For Better Health
Exposure to forests and trees:
- boosts the immune system
- lowers blood pressure
- reduces stress
- improves mood
- increases ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
- accelerates recovery from surgery or illness
- increases energy level
- improves sleep
https://dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/immerse-yourself-for-better-health
National Forest Foundation
More Scientific Review of Benefits of Forest Therapy
The Forest is the Therapist
Dr. Robert Zarr, medical director of the nonprofit Park Rx America has a mission to "Decrease the burden of chronic disease, increase health and happiness, and foster environmental stewardship, by virtue of prescribing Nature during the routine delivery of healthcare by a diverse group of health care professionals.”
https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/light-and-seed-magazine/the-forest-is-the-therapist
More Scientific Review of Benefits of Forest Therapy
More Scientific Review of Benefits of Forest Therapy
From the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs summaries and links to articles including new research, archives, U.S. research and synthesis, cultural perspectives, and popular press and major magazine articles