• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2021

Purposes: We studied whether forest bathing is effective in improving the stress of the human body. Therefore, we investigated changes in pulse rate, stress index, and autonomic nervous system after 2 hours of forest bathing on Jeju Samdasu Forest Methods : The study was conducted before and after forest bathing through heart rate variability and questionnaire. Results: After forest bathing, the average pulse rate of the experimental group was significantly increased. The stress index significantly decreased in the post-test in the experimental group. The cumulative stress, sympathetic activity (LF), parasympathetic activity (HF) change, and LF/HF ratio were slightly different from those of post-test in the experimental group, but were not statistically significant. In the survey of job stress average index and state characteristic anxiety index through questionnaire, it decreased significantly after forest bathing (p<.001). Conclusions: The Samdasu forest bathing has been proven effective in enhancing pulse and reducing stress, so it is evaluated that forest bathing is effective in promoting health.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.489-503
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• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the preference of subfertile women for forest therapy programs depending on their emotional characteristics, and to provide basic data for the development of forest therapy programs in order to promote the mental health of subfertile women. Among the surveyed emotional characteristics of subfertile women, the level of emotions including pressure to become pregnant, impatience and frustration were high, while that of emotions including anxiety and fear; depression, hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness and sadness tended to be medium. The level of emotions including shame and guilt tended to be low. The top six forest therapy programs preferred by subfertile women include a deep breath of air /phytoncide, forest bathing/wind bathing/sun bathing, self-esteem recovery program, eating organic foods, low body bathing/foot bathing/hot spring bathing, and breathing/breathing exercises. Subfertile women highly pressured to become pregnant showed significant differences in the preference of the self-esteem recovery program, Domar 's relaxation therapy, NLP therapy, and sleeping in the woods, while women with anxiety and fear showed significant differences in the preference of walking barefoot in forests, mountain walking in silence, listening to water sounds/ hand and foot soak, self-esteem recovery program, NLP therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, aroma therapy, integrated art therapy in forests, forest bathing/wind bathing/sunbathing, a deep breath of air/phytoncide, and observing stars. Women with depression, hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness, and sadness showed significant differences in eating organic foods, self-esteem recovery program, counseling/coaching, and cognitive behavior therapy. The significance of this study was to analyze the preference of subfertile women, as subjects, for forest therapy program. The results of this study are expected to be used as basis data for developing forest therapy programs for subfertile women.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2021

Purposes: This study investigated how saliva cortisol, blood vessel health type, and blood vessel health index changed after forest bathing with subjects in the Samdasu Forest. Methods: After the forest bathing, we measured cortisol change in saliva and heart rate variability with subjects. Results: In the experimental group who took forest bathing for two hours in the Samdasu Forest, the stress cortisol content secreted in saliva decreased significantly compared to the control group (p<.05). Besides, the vascular age type significantly increased (p<.03), and the vascular age index significantly decreased (p<.032).There were no significant results in the control group. Conclusions: It is evaluated that forest bathing in Samdasu Forest in Jeju Island had the effect of reducing saliva cortisol and increasing blood vessel age.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of stress and cumulative stress in 49 people and the changes of job stress, socio-psychological stress and anxiety relief levels by conducting a survey of 85 people after Gyorae forest bathing. Methods: The level of stress was measured using the uBioMacpa, and questionnaire was conducted to derive the data. Results: In the stress level after the forest bath, the control group showed no significant and the experimental group showed a significant decrease in the bathing (p<.043). In the cumulative stress change, the control group showed no significant difference after the bathing, but experimental group decreased significantly (p<.02), and in the variance analysis, there was a significant difference between the groups, and also between the group and the before and after tests (p<.002). In the questionnaire about job stress, there was no significant difference in physical environment and job demand. Overall, in the case of job stress, there was a significant decrease (p<.001). Job autonomy, relationship conflict, organizational unfairness, inadequate compensation, and workplace culture also had a significant decrease in stress (p<.001). The social psychological stress was significantly decreased after bathing (p<.001). The state anxiety decreased significantly (p<.001) after forest bathing. Conclusions: After the forest bathing in the Gyorae forest, the stress and anxiety are both reduced and significant, providing basic information that is very helpful as a natural healing place for stress relief.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.957-963
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• 2015

Objective To compare the pain-reducing effect of forest bathing alone versus forest bathing in combination with stretching and strengthening exercises in patients with chronic posterior neck pain. Methods Sixty-four subjects with posterior neck pain that had lasted more than 3 months were enrolled. They were randomly divided into a forest bathing alone (FBA) group and a forest bathing with exercise (FBE) group; each group included 32 subjects. All subjects from both groups walked every morning in the forest for about 2 hours for 5 days. In the afternoon, the FBE group did a stretching and strengthening exercise for about 4 hours; the FBA group had free time in the woods. Visual analog scale (VAS) on one day, VAS over the previous week, neck disability index (NDI), EuroQol 5D-3L VAS (EQ VAS) and index (EQ index), McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), the number of trigger points in the posterior neck region (TRPs), and the range of motion of the cervical spine were evaluated on the first and last day of the program and compared between the two groups. Results The number of TRPs were significantly reduced in the FBE group compared with the FBA group (p=0.013). However, the other scales showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion When patients with chronic posterior neck pain underwent a short-term forest bathing (less than 7 days) program, FBE was more effective in the reduction of the number of TRPs than FBA. However, all other pain measurement scales we evaluated showed no statistically significant difference between the two protocols.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.434-442
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• 2016

This study examined differences in the preference of the fest therapy program regarding stress level. Using convenience sampling method, the surveys on the preferred type of forest healing program and social and psychological stress scales was carried out for adult male and female. As a basis of Psycho social Stress Scale (PWI-SF: Psychosocial Well-being Index Short Form), the adult 620 people were classified such as healthy group, potential stress group, high-risk stress group. The data were analyzed by use of SPSS 21.0 program. To see the difference in preferences for forest therapy program between the three groups according to stress levels, it was analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Depending on the stress levels, there were differences in the preferences of forest healing program such as breathing, breathing exercises, walking in the forest, listening to the sound of water flowing, viewing the forest, counseling, consultation and expert coaching, stress-related lectures, communication-related lectures, forest bathing wind bathing sun bathing. High-risk stress group preferred cognitive based program such as counseling, consultation and expert coaching, stress-related lectures, communication-related lectures. Healthy group appeared to prefer highly emotional approach of the program to take advantage of the five senses such as breathing, breathing exercises, walking in the forest, listening to the sound of water flowing, viewing the forest, forest bathing, wind bathing, sun bathing. Noticeable preference difference was not observed in the potential stress group. It is hoped this study will serve as a basis for the development of forest healing program regarding stress level.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.693-702
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for developing effective forest healing programs for retirees by identifying their characteristics and preferences. A survey was conducted on demographic characteristics, overall perceptions of forest healing, and preferences for forest healing programs, targeting a total of 258 retirees visiting a natural recreation forest and a healing forest. The results of the survey suggested that the awareness of the forest treatment program and the hope of participating in it were both high, but the experience of participating in the program was low. Among the forest healing programs, the order of preference was "Breath in the forest", "Wind bathing and sunbathing", and "Feeling negative ions in the valley". Based on these results, it is expected that the forest healing program for retirees will be used as basic data for development of such programs in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.118-129
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to offer the preliminary data for the development of forest therapy program. This exploratory study is about the development of forest healing program by identifying what is the forest healing program preferences of potential consumers and would be an important basis for the operation. The survey of interests and needs of 620 people on the forest therapy was analyzed. Using SPSS 21.0 program, statistical analysis, frequency analysis, T-test, One-way ANOVA, we looked at the differences in forest healing program preferences according to gender, age, occupation. Forest therapy program preference was found to vary depending on sex, age and job. First, according to gender, men preferred athletic in the forest and camping compared to women, and women showed a higher preference than men in the overall program. Second, depending on age, as compared to other age, for 20s; stress assessment & diagnosis, cooking in the forest, photo therapy in the forest, for 30s; walking in the forest, counseling, listening to lectures(stress-related or interpersonal relationships-related), communication-related lectures and vision quest, for 40s; meditation, viewing the forest, forest bathing wind bathing sun bathing, walking on barefoot in the forest, for 50s; breathing breathing exercises, yoga, mountaineering, climbing in silence, eating wild food, respectively, each of those programs were especially favored. Third, the forest healing program preference in accordance with the job is as follows. For students; stress assessment & diagnosis, cooking in the forest, etc., for teachers; walking in the forest, mountaineering, reading in the forest, viewing the forest, forest bathing wind bathing sun bathing, camping etc., for housewives; yoga, listening to the sound of water flowing, drinking herbal tea, eating wild food, for specialist researcher; breathing breathing exercises, climbing in silence, meditation, sleeping in the forest, respectively, each of those programs were especially favored. We expect the results of this study to be utilized as basic data for the development of forest therapy program targeting on adults.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1991

As the suitable place of the forest bathing, Two places of the needle-leaf trees, which are located in the Oh-Saek mineral spring near place from the Sorak mountain, were selected. And then, Headspace gas trapping apparatus were setted in that two places and the aromatic components of the forest were adsorbed by Tenax-TA column for 24 hours. And Tenax-TA column were analyzed by the GC SE GC-MS. The analyzed components were found to contain up to between 70-80% of pollutants, which are Toluene, Methyl Chloride, Hexane, p-Xylene, Benzene, ... etc. On the other hand, the aromatic components of the forest, which give aromatheraphitical effectness, are as follow: alpha-Pinene, Limonene, 1, 8-Cin-eol, Benzaldehyde, . . . etc.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2017

Forest bathing has beneficial effects on human health via showering of forest aerosols as well as physical relaxation. Terpenes that consist of multiple isoprene units are the largest class of organic compounds produced by various plants, and one of the major components of forest aerosols. Traditionally, terpene-containing plant oil has been used to treat various diseases without knowing the exact functions or the mechanisms of action of the individual bioactive compounds. This review categorizes various terpenes easily obtained from forests according to their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, or neuroprotective activities. Moreover, potential action mechanisms of the individual terpenes and their effects on such processes, which are described in various in vivo and in vitro systems, are discussed. In conclusion, the studies that show the biological effectiveness of terpenes support the benefits of forest bathing and propose a potential use of terpenes as chemotherapeutic agents for treating various human diseases.