Healthy Trees - Healthy Humans

Connect with nature - your health depends on it

When I say that if I weren't around trees I would die, you may think I am exaggerating. But am I? A growing line of research is revealing the importance of trees to human health.

It is vital for us to remain connected to healthy natural areas, like our old growth forests. Our own health depends on it.

In an article called When Trees Die, People Die Lindsay Abrams writes about "the entanglement of our health with that of nature."

"Roger Ulrich demonstrated the power of having a connection with nature, however tenuous, in his classic 1984 study with patients recovering from gall bladder removal surgery in a suburban Pennsylvania hospital. 

He manipulated the view from the convalescents' windows so that half were able to gaze at nature while the others saw only a brick wall. Those with trees outside their window recovered faster, and requested fewer pain medications, than those with a "built" view. They even had slightly fewer surgical complications. 

Environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan attributed nature's apparent restorative ability to something they termed "soft fascination": Natural scenes, they theorized, are almost effortlessly able to capture people's attention and lull them into a sort of hypnotic state where negative thoughts and emotions are overtaken by a positive sense of well-being. 

Indeed, an analysis of numerous studies in BMC Public Health found evidence for natural environments having "direct and positive impacts on well-being," in the form of reduced anger and sadness."

Healthy, happy trees means healthy, happy humans.

Take a walk in the forest today, and get connected.

Walking In The Big Trees Has Health Benefits

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."- John Muir

I always felt that spending time in the forest had health benefits beyond the immediate exercise. Now, repeated studies support what many have felt for a long time - a walk in the forest is a very good thing for physical, mental, and spiritual health.

In Japan people visit nature parks and spend time among the trees practicing ‘Shinrinyoku’, or forest bathing. Doctors prescribe time in the forest for the health benefits of nature. Research has shown that this contact reduces stress levels, and strengthens the part of the immune system that fights cancer.

The Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, established in 2007, conducts studies to test the beneficial effects of nature, forests in particular. One study lead to the recommendation that repeated forest bathing may help decrease the risk of stress-related illness.

Not only that, but the unique forest smell has beneficial effects as well. Another study of forest bathing attributed increased immune activity partly to breathing in air containing phytoncide (wood essential oils) like α-pinene and limonene. These oils are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds emitted from trees to protect them from rotting and insects.

Two of Vancouver Island's native trees, the Western red-cedar and Douglas-fir, are rich in essential oils. The wood of these trees has long been known for being rot resistant, but now it looks like sniffing them can help us boost our immune system and resist some cancers. The researchers found that the elevated immune response was evident for many days after being in the forest.

Recently forest advocates in a different part of the globe were also extolling the virtues of trees and forests. Medical practitioners in Wales are being urged to prescribe their patients a walk in the woods as a natural treatment for a range of physical and mental health conditions.

Forestry Commission Wales wants to encourage doctors to prescribe a walk in the woods instead of referring them to their local gym. The commission believes that walks in the woods can help people live longer, healthier lives.

Dr. Li's Tips For Forest Bathing:

• If you take a whole day, it is better to stay in the forest for about 4 hours and walk about 5 kilometres. If you take a half day forest bathing, it is better to stay in the forest for about 2 hours and walk about 2.5 kilometres.
• If you feel tired, you can take a rest anywhere and anytime you like.
• If you feel thirsty, you can drink water/tea anywhere and anytime you like.
• Find a place in the forest you like. Then, sit for a while and read or enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• If it is possible, it is better to take a hot spring bath (a spa) after the forest bathing.
• You can select the forest bathing course based on your purpose.
• If you want to boost your immunity, a three-day/two-night forest bathing trip would be recommended.
• If you just want to relax for reducing your stress, a day trip to a forest near to your home would be recommended.
• Forest bathing is just a preventive measure for diseases; therefore, if you come down with an illness, I would recommend you to see a doctor – not visit a forest.

VIBT heartily recommends a forest bath today. Forests as small as 1 acre have been shown to be large enough to produce benefits. Not yet studied, but more than likely beneficial as well, are walks in parks with a good density of trees.

Have fun wherever you immerse yourself in nature, and rest assured that you are benefiting from bathing in everything the forest freely offers.

Tree Meditation

The big trees of Vancouver Island (and the world) need friends now like never before. On southern Vancouver Island the majority of original Douglas fir forest is gone. The Victoria Chapter of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee estimated that only 13% of the original old-growth forests on the South Island remained after a 2004 survey. Now logging companies like Timber West are selling forest land for real estate development. Once that happens, the forest is gone forever.

Like trusted pets, trees are good listeners. And if you listen closely, you will also find that trees, especially the ancients, will gladly impart life lessons to you. Friends, as Shakti Gawain tells us, come in many forms. The following is her prescription for regular visits to your own special tree:

Tree Meditation

"Find a special tree. Sit under it, or climb up and sit in it, or stand close to it and put your arms around it, finding whatever way feels right to relate to it physically.

Close your eyes and relax into a meditative state of mind. Imagine that this tree is a mother, father, brother, or sister to you. Talk to it in your mind and tell it how you feel about it. Then let your mind be quiet, and let yourself receive the energy from this tree. You may find it to be nurturing, or strong, or wise, or perhaps humorous. Trust whatever relationship you feel with this tree.

If you live nearby, come to see your tree often. You may find it to be a very comforting and loving friend."

The Pacific Coast forests, spared catastrophic forest fires due to the wet climate, are ancient and special. Old growth trees, any where from 250 to 1000 years old exude an energy field similar to an eighty year old sea turtle or a hundred year old human elder. Slow, patient, strong, with lessons learned by successfully navigating the storms of life. It is at our peril that we ignore what our elders have to teach us.

Tree meditations are a two way street. You will feel better, and the tree will be strengthened by your presence.

Ground yourself. Visit your favourite tree today. Visit your tree often. It is a mutually healing encounter. Do you have a favourite tree? Or forest?