Shinrin Yoku originated in Japan in the early 1980’s when stress-related diseases, including autoimmune disease and cancer were rising. The term is translated as forest bathing, and refers to the practice of immersing oneself in the forest or in nature. In the forest, the trees release volatile organic compounds called phytoncydes that protect the trees, and can boost the human immune system as well. On a nature and forest therapy walk, we are literally being bathed in phytoncydes, thus the name forest bathing. Numerous scientific studies support the findings that forest bathing is beneficial to the health and well-being of humans and effective in fighting disease. These volatile organic compounds are also know as essential oils, and are what give us the characteristic scents of the forest such as pine and juniper.

During the industrial revolution, much of Japan’s population moved away from rural settings and into large cities. With the rise of disease, Japanese doctors and nurses began offering guided forest bathing experiences to their patients. They used noninvasive stress biomarkers such as measuring blood pressure and salivary amylase before and after the guided walks to confirm the stress reducing effects of forest bathing. In addition the Japanese government set out to get people back to nature by designating certified forest bathing trails and natural settings specifically for relaxation and leisure.