Studies have shown that the key ingredient as to why forest bathing is so good for you is the essential oils that are given off by trees and plants in the forest, also known as volatile organic compounds (VOC) or Phytoncides. Trees, such as oak, beech, birch and hazel, as well as green plants, emit these phytoncides to create a field of protection around themselves against harmful disease, bacteria and bugs. But these active substances don’t only protect the trees. They benefit forest visitors too.

Qing Li, from Nippon Medical School, the leading scientist in the area, found that the forest boosted the human immune system by increasing the number of natural killer (NK) cells and intercellular levels of anti-cancer proteins, through the phytoncides.

NK Cells are white blood cells that can attack and destroy cells that might cause damage. A two hour walk in the forest notably increases NK cell activity, lasting for days, but there are a myriad of other benefits to forest bathing too:

   •   Anti-inflammatory: common forest terpenes temper inflammation and reduce oxidative stress
   •   Nervous system: forest air creates a relaxation response and lowers nervous system activity
   •   Mood enhancing: exposure to forest air reduces cortisol levels and β-pinene has anti-depressive properties
   •   Sleep: phytoncides like α-pinene enhance sleep
   •   Blood glucose: exposure to VOCs can reduce blood glucose levels
   •   Reduction in stress levels

So there you have it.


Finally evidence is revealing what our intuition has always told us; that walks in the forest support our physical and psychological wellbeing. The trees are our medicine, and with an abundance of oak, birch, hazel and beech in the Wild Blossom ancient woodland, why not prescribe yourself and your little ones a visit, and come spend the day with us, being healed beneath the canopies?

See you there!