Abstract

Forest bathing, known as Shinrin-Yoku, is the Japanese practice of taking short trips to a forest and immersing oneself within the atmosphere of the environment. Over the last twenty years, emerging evidence from the fields of complementary medicine, allied and environmental health has shown promising results for human health, including cardiovascular, immune, and neuro-endocrine benefits, as well as improvement in mental wellbeing. More recent research suggests that these improvements in physiological and psychological health may be in part due to phytoncides (airborne aromatic compounds) that are inhaled by breathing in the forest air. Autonomic nervous system regulation has also been identified as a potential mechanism for the improvements seen. This article reviews the current evidence for the health benefits derived from forest bathing to determine the need for future research, including the potential for studies to be conducted in Australian environments. Methods: A search was undertaken in PubMed (including PMC), Medline Complete, and SCOPUS using the search term “forest AND bathing.” A review of the methods and references of selected papers were reviewed to identify additional sources of published research. The inclusion criteria applied were human studies published between 1998 and 2017, available in full text, English language, with methodology that included direct exposure to a forest environment. Results: Thirty-one papers were determined to meet the inclusion criteria and are included in this current review. Conclusion: The current evidence demonstrates significant benefit for human health in relation to cardiovascular, immune, and neuro-endocrine function. Furthermore, significant psychological benefit has been associated with forest bathing. The review has identified that the majority of the current research has been conducted in Japan and other regions of Asia. Further research in other regions, such as the Australian environment, warrants consideration.