Why is forest bathing therapy popular with many celebrities?

(Dan Tri) - Many famous people such as Princess Kate, actress Gwyneth Paltrow... choose to immerse themselves in nature, also known as forest bathing, as a health recovery therapy.

Forest bathing therapy

“Don’t forget to nurture all that lies beyond the disease,” Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, shared in a post earlier this year. The accompanying photo shows her standing under a willow tree in Windsor, looking up at the sky.

Kate also regularly posts photos of herself surrounded by nature and woodland scenes, an increasingly popular practice inspired by the Japanese tradition known as Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow turns to nature to find tranquility (Photo: Elle).

Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar-winning actress and founder of lifestyle brand Goop, is a big proponent of getting out into nature to combat what she calls “urban overcrowding,” saying it helps her find solitude in a hyper-connected world .

It is this need to disconnect that causes billionaire Bill Gates to disappear twice a year for his “Think Week,” retreating to a minimalist, secluded cabin deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest.

Here, away from the internet, daily meetings and all digital distractions, he spends seven days reading manuscripts, studying scientific papers and contemplating. For him, the forest is not an escape, but a “cradle” for creativity.

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is the practice of spending time in a quiet, mindful space in a natural setting, usually a forest, says Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram. It is not about hiking or intense physical activity, but rather about slowing down, engaging your senses and connecting with nature.

The health benefits of forest bathing have been scientifically proven.

The idea of ​​forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s. The term was coined by Tomohide Akiyama, then Director of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The practice encourages individuals to immerse themselves in a forest environment to improve overall health.

The concept of healing through nature has much deeper roots in Japanese culture. Spiritual traditions such as Shugendo, practiced by mountain ascetics, emphasize the sacredness of nature.

According to the Telegraph , the practice combines mindfulness and meditation while immersing ourselves in natural surroundings. Scientists say that being in nature improves our mood, lowers blood pressure and even – according to some studies – increases our immunity to various diseases, including cancer.

Exercising and being in contact with nature every day helps improve health (Photo: TT).

Dr Tayal added that the practice is growing in popularity globally and scientific research is increasingly supporting its positive effects on physical and mental health.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method.

A meta-analysis of 28 studies, published in the journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, found that exposure to forest environments significantly lowered blood pressure, reduced levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and alleviated symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Further research has begun to unravel the biological mechanisms behind these benefits. One of the most important discoveries involves phytoncides, volatile organic compounds released by plants to protect themselves from pests.

Dr. Qing Li, of Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, has shown that breathing in these compounds can lead to a marked increase in the number and activity of natural killer (NK) cells in the body, a type of white blood cell that forms an important part of the immune system's first line of defense against viruses and tumor formation.

A randomized controlled trial of healthcare workers, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, demonstrated that a three-hour guided forest bathing session significantly reduced occupational burnout and emotional fatigue, and improved mood.

This suggests that nature can act as a powerful mental health intervention without the need for medication.

A study focusing on high school students, published in the journal Ecopsychology, also found that after just three forest bathing sessions over three weeks, students' sense of connection to nature, gratitude, and pro-environmental attitudes all increased significantly.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/vi-sao-lieu-phap-tam-rung-duoc-nhieu-nguoi-noi-tieng-ua-chuong-20251021105223248.htm