What if the most powerful and significant therapy for stress, anxiety, and even immunity was not found in a pharmacy, but in a forest?
Shinrin-yoku (Forest bathing), originated in Japan in the 1980s as a public health practice. Today, modern science is finally catching up with what ancient cultures understood instinctively, like how spending time in the nature can deeply heal our body and mind.
Recent research published in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology” (2024) confirms that time spent in forest environments can lower cortisol levels, reduce blood pressure, and also improves markers of mental well-being and the reason behind this is a key factor called “Phytoncides”. Trees release these natural compounds known as phytoncides, which have been shown to enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity, supporting immune defense and even offering protective effects against the disease Cancer.
In the year 2025, a research study from Kyoto University found that just 30 minutes in a forest significantly improved attention, memory, and emotional balance. As a result, hospitals in Japan and few parts of Europe are now integrating forest therapy into the treatment plans for stress-related disorders and CVDs mostly.
– Have you experienced a time when nature helped you heal or reset?
– In rapidly urbanizing societies now, how do we protect and also integrate natural spaces before their absence becomes a public health crisis?
I love when nature and ayurveda knowledge is being focused, I have studied about AYUSH- AYURVEDA,YOGA,UNANI,SIDDHA, HOMEOPATHY WHERE I LEARD HOW powerful our base is …
Yes, nature healed me so many times. As I travel a lot and spend lots of time in nature like forest, watching sun rise , sun set, beach , river side. These help me a lot to think properly and help me to release my stress.
I remember once going on hiking trip among the woods. Though exhausting it was truly an unforgettable trip. So refreshing.
No VRs can replace such experience.
And I think that’s why we need more work towards urban planning, in such a way that we are able to preserve our green cover.
Yes experience the time basically I am from uttarakhand and there are so many places where their is no place for stress anxiety spending time in nature improve my mood and physical health. nature help me in problem solving skills and make mind calm .
Yes, nature is God gifted. Whenever I feel drained, I spend my time in moonlight by looking at the sky and the wavy leaves of tree ,it helps to calm myself. We can’t depend on anyone for the change, we should start from our home and area by planting more trees and keeping our surrounding clean.
Nature is powerful tool and healer. Sunlight improve mood and reduce anxiety by stimulation of serotonin production. When we spend time in nature numerous bichemical reactions occurs in the body, that help to reduce stress and anxiety, promote overall mental-wellbeing.
Being brought up in Uttarakhand, I’ve seen and felt how simply observing nature can be deeply healing.
You don’t have to do anything — just sit or lie down on the ground, and breathe in the beauty around you.
But today, rapid deforestation — in the name of easier access and faster commute — is triggering frequent landslides.
It’s not only endangering native flora and fauna, but also threatening the lives of indigenous communities.
Adopting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be a way forward — a path to protect everyone.
This is so true that nature had the healing capacity,we want to live bewtween the nature but with technology…this is the harsh reality of today’s era..
Yes, I personally experienced this alchemy of nature (forest).it was time when I had just attempted my NEET paper and I was worried about the result, my mind was full of stress ,anxiety then I went for a long drive into the mountains and after a while I feel some released stress .
Yes. Spending time in nature like going for a hike or going for a walk relaxes the mind and reduces the tension. Nature gives a pleasure and therapy to our body.
Nature is indeed a best healer, especially if you are down with stress and anxiety. Just a walk in the garden or just watching over the plants and flowers would instantly relieves the stress and elevates the mood. Implementing forest therapy in healthcare holds great promise, as it could definitely enhance an individual’s mental well-being.
As far as protecting the greens and nature is concerned, the old saying would only work, “Discourage deforestation and encourage afforestation”.
Yes, I’ve definitely felt calmer and more refreshed after spending time in nature—it really helps clear the mind. In busy cities, we should create more green spaces like parks and healing gardens, and even include short nature walks in daily life. Protecting nature isn’t just good for the planet it’s becoming a true part of healthcare.
