The radiance in some places is so great as to be fairly dazzling… every crystal, every flower a window opening into heaven, a mirror reflecting the Creator.
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Sequoia, cedar, evergreen and other trees have been harvested for buildings, furniture and firewood. Apple, orange, olive, almond and other trees are grown in vast plantations for food. Now, more realize time among lots of living trees can heal hearts, minds and spirits.
In the 1980s, when Japanese left green and forested areas for work in cities and technology, stress-related illness and disease skyrocketed. When the government searched for causes, one survey asked, “What happens when humans are exposed to forested environments?”
As a result, Blake Ellis, a manager for the Chico State Ecotherapy Program, found, “forest bathing helps us recover from stress and trauma by reducing our adrenaline and cortisol levels, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.” She added, “Forest bathing also decreases blood pressure, improves cardiovascular and respiratory function, and improves our sleep quality, mood, attention, academic performance, creativity and immune function.”
To try Forest Bathing NPR recommends,
- Find a quiet place with lots of trees
- Allow two hours, though fifteen minutes in the woods can help
- Choose calming activities that slow the heart. Stroll. Sit, Practice yoga or tai chi.
- Inhale deeply. Trees release phytoncides, chemicals that can reduce stress hormones and increase leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and infections.
For more information, here are this post’s Resources:
- National Geographic, “Forest-Bathing Nature Walk Health”
- NPR, “A Guide to Forest Bathing”
- United States Department of Agriculture, “The Healing Power of Nature”
- University of Minnesota, “How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?”
How Forests Heal People
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More Great Videos:
- PBS, The Healing Nature of Nature, 7 minutes
- TEDx: The Truth About the Healing Power of Trees, 14 Minutes
- Healing Forest, Guided Meditation, 37 minutes
Succeed and Soar!
Sandra Gould Ford
Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire.
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