The concept of Forest Bathing derives from Japan. The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku. They have discovered that by breathing in alpha-pinene, an essential oil from Pine trees, there is an increase in human Natural Killer (NK) Cells, NK activity and anticancer activity in lymphocytes. To achieve this, it is recommended that you slowly walk in a pine forest covering about 1 mile in 2-3 hours. This is slow enough that it is mediative too. That slow unhurried pace is, in itself, healthful. The average walking speed is about 2 miles per hour. In Forest Bathing, you are then walking at a maximum speed of only 25% of the normal walking pace.
Not all of us can easily access a forest. But what about a Fresh cut coniferous tree for the holidays? For many years, I have avoided a fresh Holiday tree because of the concern for fire. But this year, I was not motivated to do a fake tree. The subtle smell of plastic has become depressing.
So I filled our home with a fresh pine tree and garland*. It smells so good. Nature does take care of us. I am, like most others, naturally attracted to the aroma of pine. The whole process of Shinrin Yoku, forest bathing can be described as Biophilia: our innate tendency to seek connections with nature. The stimulations of NK cells must be the evolutionary advantage.
Happy healthy decorating to all!
For fire and smog prevention, fireplace use is forbidden. The tree came from a YMCA fundraiser for underserved youths. These trees are farmed for the purpose of decoration.
http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html
*For those with allergies to coniferous trees, sorry.
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