Therapeutic effect of forest bathing on human hypertension in the elderly

Mao, Genxiang; Cao, Yong-Bao; Lan, Xiao-Guang; He, Zhihua; Chen, Zhuo-Mei; Wang, Yazhen; Hu, Xiao; Lv, Yuandong; Wang, Guofu; Yan, Jing

doi:10.1016/j.jjcc.2012.08.003

Cited by 169 publications

(231 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Consistent with previous studies [3,22,24,25,40], our study results showed a decrease in middle-aged women' SBP and DBP after the forest therapy program. Though the decline of DBP was not statistically significant in this study, our results suggest the positive effects of forest environments on physical health among middle-aged women.…”

Section: Response Of Blood Pressuresupporting

confidence: 93%

“…First, environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, negative air ions, and illumination were not considered in this study. Previous studies have confirmed that many environmental factors are associated with psychological and physiological health [3,14,45]. Therefore, it is suggested that the above-mentioned factors be controlled in future studies in order to give a more precise estimation regarding the effects of visiting a forest.…”

Section: Experimental Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The literature on the subject has demonstrated the therapeutic effects of forest bathing on human health, including immune system improvement, cardiovascular disease prevention, and mental health enhancement [2][3][4]. In 1983, Ulrich proposed a psycho-evolutionary theory, indicating the restorative effects of natural environments on stress [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of Forest Bathing on Stress Recovery: Evidence from Middle-Aged Females of Taiwan

Chen

Lee

2018

Forests

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Previous literature highlights the effects of forests on reviving psychological and physiological health. Given that middle-aged women are vulnerable to stress due to the transition in their lives, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of forest bathing on their stress recovery using a field experiment design. This study examined both psychological and physiological responses after a forest therapy program among a middle-aged female group. Sixteen middle-aged (46.88 ± 7.83 years) women were recruited for a two-day (one-night) forest therapy program in the Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area (Nantou, Taiwan). Psychological indices were measured by Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Physiological indicators included pulse rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and salivary α-amylase. Both psychological and physiological measurements were collected before and after the program. The results showed that negative mood states (i.e., confusion, fatigue, anger-hostility, and tension) and anxiety levels were significantly reduced after visiting forests. In contrast, positive mood state (vigor) was improved after the program. Regarding the physiological responses, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure response was found after the program. In sum, the two-day forest therapy program benefited to mental health and systolic blood pressure among the middle-aged female group.

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Section: Response Of Blood Pressuresupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Experimental Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of Forest Bathing on Stress Recovery: Evidence from Middle-Aged Females of Taiwan

Chen

Lee

2018

Forests

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“…Regarding the study design, 11 studies used a crossover trial design and only six of the studies [16,[18][19][20][21][22] used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Four out of six RCT design studies were conducted with adults with health problems.…”

Section: Study Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For articles published in English, nine studies [12,19,21,22,25,28,29,34,39] used POMS to assess the level of depression and three studies [28,29,39] used Semantic differential (SD) method. Other scales used by the studies included the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression [20], Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) [16,20,24,31], positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) [34].…”

Section: Depression Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults: A Systematic Review

Lee

Choi

Bang

et al. 2017

Preprint

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This study systematically reviewed forest therapy programs designed to decrease the level of depression among adults and assessed the methodological rigor and scientific evidence quality of existing research studies to guide future studies. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The authors independently screened full-text articles from various databases using the following criteria: (1) intervention studies assessing the effects of forest therapy on depressive symptoms in adults aged 18 years and older; (2) studies including at least one control group or condition; (3) peer-reviewed studies; and (4) been published either in English or Korean before July 2016. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network measurement tool was used to assess the risk of bias in each trial. In the final sample, 28 articles (English: 13, Korean: 15) were included in the systematic review. We concluded that forest therapy is an emerging and effective intervention for decreasing adults' depression levels. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor. Future studies assessing the long-term effect of forest therapy on depression using rigorous study designs are needed.

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Mouse brain concentrations of α‐pinene, limonene, linalool, and 1,8‐cineole following inhalation

Satou

Hayakawa

Kasuya

et al. 2016

Flavour & Fragrance J

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The main volatile components of essential oils are monoterpenes. It is known that olfactory receptors recognize monoterpenes as a fragrance, and that they can affect emotions. On the other hand, the components of essential oils may act directly on the central nervous system as well as the olfactory nerve. However, the transport of monoterpenes to the brain following inhalation, which is the main method of administration in aromatherapy, is unclear. In this study, we investigated major monoterpenes of essential oils, such as (+)‐α‐pinene, (+)‐limonene, (‐)‐linalool, and 1,8‐cineole. After the inhalation of each compound, the mice brains were dissected, and brain extracts prepared with n‐hexane. The extracts were then subjected to gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis. The results revealed that α‐pinene was transported to the brain maximally with 30 min inhalation, which may be due to its high volatility. Limonene and linalool showed maximal transport to the brain with 90 min inhalation. Brain concentrations of 1,8‐cineole showed minimal level after 30 min inhalation. Moreover, 1,8‐cineole was easily transported to the brain following intraperitoneal administration. These results could be applied as one of the indices for the effective use of essential oils in aromatherapy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Therapeutic effect of forest bathing on human hypertension in the elderly

Abstract: Our results provided direct evidence that forest bathing has therapeutic effects on human hypertension and induces inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system and inflammation, and thus inspiring its preventive efficacy against cardiovascular disorders.

Cited by 169 publications

References 35 publications

The Effects of Forest Bathing on Stress Recovery: Evidence from Middle-Aged Females of Taiwan

The Effects of Forest Bathing on Stress Recovery: Evidence from Middle-Aged Females of Taiwan

Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults: A Systematic Review

Mouse brain concentrations of α‐pinene, limonene, linalool, and 1,8‐cineole following inhalation

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