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by | Jun 1, 2019

Post Categories: Environmental Health | Healthy Aging Practices | Mental Health

Benefits of a Short Forest Bathing Program

Taiwan researchers tested the effects of a two-hour forest bathing program on 128 middle-aged and elderly people, age 45-86 years (mean 60.0 ± 7.44), 46.1% of whom (n=59) reported chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The experience—in groups of 12—took place in a valley, planted with Japanese cedar and giant timber bamboo 40 to 90 years ago and surrounded on three sides by mountains. While walking 2.5 km (about 1½ miles) through the forest, participants were guided to use their four senses to see the scenery, listen to birds and running streams, smell the wood, and feel the surfaces of leaves and trees. Pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate variability (to indicate sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous activity) as well as psychological measures were taken before and after participation in the program.

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Author

Jule Klotter

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