The practice is called FOREST BATHING. A large body of evidence has shown that spending time in nature is responsible for many measurable beneficial changes in the body. People who have spent 40 minutes walking in a forest had lower levels of the stress hormone which is involved in blood pressure and immune-system function. Trees and plants emit aromatic compounds when inhaled, can spur healthy biological changes in a manner similar to aromatherapy. These are associated with protection against cancer, depression, anxiety, attention disorder, and to obtain better immunity and to lower blood pressure. 

Visiting green spaces can be a simple way to improve heart health. Also researchers found that taking two long walks through the trees, in a park, on consecutive days increased the protection in the blood for a month. A study at the University of Illinois, where children were taken for a 20 minute walk in a park, they found that after the park walk the children were able to concentrate substantially better. People improved their concentration and short term memory by 20% after a park walk, but had no changes after walking through city streets. 

I had a student that felt blocked, mentally, and could not focus. I sent him outside across the street and asked him to sit in front of a lone tree. He was to sit there for 15 minutes and to look up at the leaves and enjoy the presence of nature. When he came back to the school he was able to resolve his problem. A study at the University of California found that people who spent 60 seconds looking up at a towering tree were more likely to help a stranger than people who looked at an equally tall—but far less awe-inspiring—building. These experiences cause individuals to feel less entitled, less selfish, and to behave in more generous ways.  You will get a range of  benefits by looking at trees through your window. Looking at a photograph of an Acacia tree for a few seconds will lower stress by 60%.  Several studies have also shown that having a window view of a tree can improve attention, reduce stress and even help people in hospitals heal quicker and better.

SO TAKE A WALK….. HAVE A FOREST BATH….. LOOK AT A PHOTO OF A TREE.

TAKE CARE, STAY WELL, STAY HEALTHY. HAVE FAITH. THANK YOU.

Categories: PERSPECTIVES

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.