Medical empirical research on forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku): a systematic review

Ye Wen · Xinren Gu · Yuanqiu Liu

271 citations0/0 files storedEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine

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Urban Green Space and Health Music Therapy and Health Health, psychology, and well-being

Abstract

AIMS: This study focused on the newest evidence of the relationship between forest environmental exposure and human health and assessed the health efficacy of forest bathing on the human body as well as the methodological quality of a single study, aiming to provide scientific guidance for interdisciplinary integration of forestry and medicine. METHOD: Through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, 210 papers from January 1, 2015, to April 1, 2019, were retrieved, and the final 28 papers meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. RESULT: The methodological quality of papers included in the study was assessed quantitatively with the Downs and Black checklist. The methodological quality of papers using randomized controlled trials is significantly higher than that of papers using non-randomized controlled trials (p < 0.05). Papers included in the study were analyzed qualitatively. The results demonstrated that forest bathing activities might have the following merits: remarkably improving cardiovascular function, hemodynamic indexes, neuroendocrine indexes, metabolic indexes, immunity and inflammatory indexes, antioxidant indexes, and electrophysiological indexes; significantly enhancing people's emotional state, attitude, and feelings towards things, physical and psychological recovery, and adaptive behaviors; and obvious alleviation of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: Forest bathing activities may significantly improve people's physical and psychological health. In the future, medical empirical studies of forest bathing should reinforce basic studies and interdisciplinary exchange to enhance the methodological quality of papers while decreasing the risk of bias, thereby raising the grade of paper evidence.

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References

2015Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement 1998The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions.2010A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments 2018The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes 2017Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review 2009Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function 2011Insomnia and the Performance of US Workers: Results from the America Insomnia Survey 2009Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku” (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan

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2021The affective benefits of nature exposure 2021The Psychological and Physical Effects of Forests on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2023Green space exposure on depression and anxiety outcomes: A meta-analysis

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