By Jennifer Rae Vliet ~ Just recently, a deputy sheriff showed up at our house with plans to arrest me for trespassing on a wooded path that I had been walking on for the last 15 years. True story. I merely avoided the pokie because said deputy felt I truly did not know that I had been trespassing. Aside from the creeper that took pictures of me and followed me home without me knowing that happened to report me to the police about my recent walks, I shared with family what a bummer this is for me because being in the woods has been such a place of solace and somehow has felt healing to my being. Apparently, my phone had been listening because I had multiple reels in social media within hours sharing about the healing that can take place from being in a wooded area. Fast forward to the birth of this column for Your Health Today! A lot of this I did not know and had really never thought much about...
This is about submerging oneself in nature, getting away from technology and stress as well and about taking time to soak in all of the benefits the woods happen to have for our health! God has created a thriving eco system of life within the woodlands and there are many scientific studies to show that talking to our house plants can help THEM thrive...it makes sense that spending time with foliage and earth in this manner can give to us, too. In the woods, we are exposed to cleaner air, essential oils and other compounds that boost our immune system and fight cancer!
",,,and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" - Revelations 22:2
While this scripture is symbolic as God uses the metaphor of a tree in many respects to relay His important messages and truths, it is beautiful in its own right for this forward.
So, what is "Forest Bathing"? Forest bathing, or “Shinrin-yoku” as it's called in Japan where the practice was founded, is a way of immersing your senses in nature that has proven benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing. Time in nature can boost our immune systems and creativity, settle our minds, and lower our stress levels. But how do you forest bathe? While an actual bath in the forest is not required, here’s an introduction to get started improving your connection with nature and your health.
And of course one of my favorite humans has something to say about it too. Here is Dr. Eric Berg on the topic of Forest Bathing...
From Sempervirens.com: A walk in the woods gazing at trees, flowers and, if you’re lucky, wildlife, can leave you feeling restored and rejuvenated. Although we inherently feel that spending time in nature is good for us, we may not realize just how good it can be for our health. Forests not only play a major role in cleaning our air and water, but also provide beneficial changes to the minds and bodies of those who spend time among the trees.
Exposure to forests strengthens our immune system, reduces blood pressure, increases energy, boosts our mood and helps us regain and maintain our focus in ways that treeless environments just don’t.
These benefits don’t necessarily come from intense physical activities many people do in the forest such as hiking or mountain biking. Almost anyone can reap the rewards of a short sojourn to the woods. The Japanese call it "shinrin-yoku" or "forest bathing." Even 20 minutes in a forested space is enough to produce positive changes in the body.
Why is this?
The secrets lie in the plants themselves. For one reason, forests contain a higher concentration of oxygen than urban spaces do. The next and perhaps most surprising reason comes from the chemicals plants produce called phytoncides. These chemicals are natural oils that plants use to defend themselves against unwanted pests such as insects, bacteria or fungi.
Phytoncides improve the human immune system by increasing natural killer cell activity. These cells respond rapidly to virus-infected cells and tumor formation. Studies show that increased natural cell activity can last for more than 30 days after a trip to a forest, suggesting that a trip once a month would enable individuals to maintain a higher level of natural killer cell activity. Other benefits from phytoncides include an increase in anti-cancer proteins; a reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones; reduced test scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion; and increased scores for vigor
So, if you live near an evergreen forest – a forest that contains trees such as pine, cedar, spruce or fir – you live near some of the best phytoncide producers around.
In closing, I want to share a link, here to find trails and wooded paths near you so you can benefit from the blessings of being drenched in God's healing creations! Protect yourself accordingly of course, know your surroundings and get informed about any potentially threatening wildlife. If anyone has any experiences or comments on the topic, please sound off below. We always welcome comments on The Plain Truth!
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