urbantravels
disjecta membra
- Messages
- 1,333
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
I just read about this in Landscape Architecture magazine, a weekly missive I still get from my former career.
I'm not sure if this link will work, but I quoted the relevant bits above.
http://www.zinio.com/pages/LandscapeArchitecture/Jan-11/416152063/pg-24
Shinrinyoku or "forest bathing" refers to taking a short walk in the woods. It has become very popular in Japan: Forty-two forest therapy bases have been established, and the Japanese government promotes forest bathing for tourists.
Asian researchers have been studying forest bathing's effects on human health since the 1990s, leading to the establishment of two new areas of research: forest medicine and forest therapy. In 2005, Chinese researcher Qing Li discovered that the inhalation of tree-derived wood essential oils known as phytonicides, such as alpha-pinene and limonene, resulted in an increase in the number and rate of production of natural killer (NK) cells...Li reported that the elevated NK cell count was sustained after a period of time after forest bathing trips.
...Anyone can do it - no strenuous activity is required. In fact, the Japanese advocate a slow pace and a short distance. Plant yourself next to a tree trunk to read or nap for a bit.
I'm not sure if this link will work, but I quoted the relevant bits above.
http://www.zinio.com/pages/LandscapeArchitecture/Jan-11/416152063/pg-24