Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review
Introduction and Purpose: This comprehensive review aims to synthesize and analyze the existing scientific literature concerning the multifaceted impact of forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, on human health and overall well-being. We will delve into the historical origins of shinrin-yoku w...
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| Format: | Article |
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Kazimierz Wielki University
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60242 |
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| author | Adrianna Samoraj Jakub Zajączkowski Paulina Krzeszowska Kacper Stępniak Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak Jan Wilk Jakub Jarmołowicz Aleksandra Kujawa Karolina Krochmal Radosław Kuźma |
| author_facet | Adrianna Samoraj Jakub Zajączkowski Paulina Krzeszowska Kacper Stępniak Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak Jan Wilk Jakub Jarmołowicz Aleksandra Kujawa Karolina Krochmal Radosław Kuźma |
| author_sort | Adrianna Samoraj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction and Purpose: This comprehensive review aims to synthesize and analyze the existing scientific literature concerning the multifaceted impact of forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, on human health and overall well-being. We will delve into the historical origins of shinrin-yoku while also meticulously examining the specific health domains.
Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted to extract relevant articles published between 1975 and 2023. The search strategy employed the following key terms: "forest bathing," "shinrin-yoku," "human health," and "well-being."
Results: The analysis of the retrieved data revealed a consistent pattern of beneficial physiological effects associated with forest bathing. Specifically, a reduction in heart rate, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, was observed in individuals who participated in forest excursions. The biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by forest vegetation were shown to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting inflammatory processes implicated in conditions such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Notably, a lower incidence of COVID-19 was observed in densely forested areas, potentially attributable to the natural barrier effect of forest vegetation against viral transmission and the lower levels of air pollution prevalent in these environments. Shinrin-yoku was also found to play a crucial role in maintaining mental health. In patients with dementia symptoms, forest bathing interventions resulted in improvements in language function and memory, among other cognitive domains.
Conclusions: Forest bathing represents an accessible and cost-effective intervention that holds significant potential for enhancing human quality of life. Therefore, it should be considered as an integral component of a healthy lifestyle and incorporated into routine daily activities.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-440b34b8134c4b4aad9327a51fb8ef3f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2391-8306 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Kazimierz Wielki University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Education, Health and Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-440b34b8134c4b4aad9327a51fb8ef3f2025-08-20T03:26:43ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-06-018210.12775/JEHS.2025.82.60242Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic ReviewAdrianna Samoraj0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8539-6551Jakub Zajączkowski1https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1722-4504Paulina Krzeszowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5610-0006Kacper Stępniak3https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0273-6029Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6941-166XJan Wilk5https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5805-2144Jakub Jarmołowicz6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7574-1423Aleksandra Kujawa7https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3538-8631Karolina Krochmal8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1909-8429Radosław Kuźma9https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7914-7941Independent Public Healthcare Complex in PruszkówWest Mazovia Health Centre Limanowskiego 30, 96-300 ŻyrardówLower Silesian Oncology Center, plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland West Masovia Health Centre Limanowskiego 30, 96-300 Żyrardów Central Clinical Hospital, University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland Wrocław University Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 WrocławIndependent Public Healthcare Complex in Pruszków, Armii Krajowej 2/4, 05-800 Pruszków Lower Silesian Oncology Center, plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland County Hospital in Sochaczew, Batalionów Chłopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew Introduction and Purpose: This comprehensive review aims to synthesize and analyze the existing scientific literature concerning the multifaceted impact of forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, on human health and overall well-being. We will delve into the historical origins of shinrin-yoku while also meticulously examining the specific health domains. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted to extract relevant articles published between 1975 and 2023. The search strategy employed the following key terms: "forest bathing," "shinrin-yoku," "human health," and "well-being." Results: The analysis of the retrieved data revealed a consistent pattern of beneficial physiological effects associated with forest bathing. Specifically, a reduction in heart rate, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, was observed in individuals who participated in forest excursions. The biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by forest vegetation were shown to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting inflammatory processes implicated in conditions such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Notably, a lower incidence of COVID-19 was observed in densely forested areas, potentially attributable to the natural barrier effect of forest vegetation against viral transmission and the lower levels of air pollution prevalent in these environments. Shinrin-yoku was also found to play a crucial role in maintaining mental health. In patients with dementia symptoms, forest bathing interventions resulted in improvements in language function and memory, among other cognitive domains. Conclusions: Forest bathing represents an accessible and cost-effective intervention that holds significant potential for enhancing human quality of life. Therefore, it should be considered as an integral component of a healthy lifestyle and incorporated into routine daily activities. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60242forest bathingShinrin-yokuhuman healthwell-being |
| spellingShingle | Adrianna Samoraj Jakub Zajączkowski Paulina Krzeszowska Kacper Stępniak Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak Jan Wilk Jakub Jarmołowicz Aleksandra Kujawa Karolina Krochmal Radosław Kuźma Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review Journal of Education, Health and Sport forest bathing Shinrin-yoku human health well-being |
| title | Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Therapeutic Effects of Forest Bathing on Human Health: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | therapeutic effects of forest bathing on human health a systematic review |
| topic | forest bathing Shinrin-yoku human health well-being |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60242 |
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