In conversation｜9 questions and answers

Yes, exactly. That's what I thought when I first heard about Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing). As a dog mom, I'm in the forest almost every day and really enjoy these little micro-adventures on my doorstep. However, I never asked myself whether these relaxing breaks in the forest also offer tangible health benefits. I only learnt this researching an article on Shinrin Yoku, Japanese for forest bathing, and after going through a very personal experience related to it.

In Japan, Forest Medicine, initiated by Dr. Qing Li, is a field of scientific research that takes an interdisciplinary approach to the forest as a place of health. The immunological studies - many of which can be read in my book – are fascinating and clearly show how worthwhile it is to be in the forest. I am sure that people would go into the forest with a different approach if they knew more about its enormous health benefits.

In German I find this term more open and appropriate. “Waldbaden” is the German translation of the Japanese term Shinrin Yoku. Shinrin stands for forest and Yoku could be translated as bathing, in the sense of immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest. In English it is called forest bathing. The South Koreans speak of forest healing. When it comes to forest bathing accompanied by forest medicine specialists, it is called Shinrin Therapy or Forest Therapy. In my book I propose the following definition, which has since been adopted by other specialist authors:

“In Japan, forest therapy refers to the practice of health-promoting leisure activities in a special forest environment, carried out under the supervision of medically trained personnel, to achieve a holistic improvement in health and well-being – with demonstrable relaxation effects.”

“Im-Wald-Sein” is therefore more appropriate, because being in the forest is the goal of every programme. By being present in the forest, getting involved in its atmosphere, perceiving it and also noticing how the forest affects you, you achieve the basic prerequisite for stress reduction and relaxation.

Because there is a wealth of serious evidence that spending time in the forest has a health-promoting effect. Reliable research shows: Being in the forest is good for the soul, it combats stress and mental exhaustion and activates important immune system cells.

It is therefore an ideal preventative measure that can potentially even prevent development of cancerous cells. In my book you will find many studies and, above all, important meta-studies. They collate existing data and evaluate research results according to established scientific standards. The results, known as reviews, provide a good overview of the status and quality of existing studies.

Secondary research shows that there are already many studies and that Shinrin Yoku and forest bathing have positive effects on many diseases such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, COPD, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure.

In addition, forest therapy programmes are currently being investigated to see which measures can have a therapeutic effect. I find this particularly exciting and our IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy is also conducting research into these topics.

Exactly. There is much to suggest that being in the forest can be effective as a complementary therapeutic measure, for example in the treatment of depression or in cancer treatment, if it is guided by appropriately qualified “practitioners” with a medical background.

A good example of where such programmes are carried out is the Nacadia Forest Therapy Garden in Denmark. Since 2011, people with stress-related illnesses such as burnout or mental exhaustion have been treated there with nature-based therapy. This includes elements such as individual counselling therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, sensory perception, gardening and the creation of nature-based stories and symbols as metaphors for one's own life.

In 2019, I founded the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy together with an interdisciplinary team, which of course includes the founder of forest medicine, Dr. Qing Li. It is primarily aimed at healthcare professions and institutions. It teaches doctors, alternative practitioners, therapists and medical professionals how to use Shinrin Yoku by Dr. Qing Li and forest therapy according to the IM-WALD-SEIN® method.

While here in Europe the topic of forests and health under the heading of forest bathing is regarded as an esoteric matter and sometimes seen as a mockery, South Korea is pursuing it as a comprehensive forest healing policy. Its motto is “From the cradle to the grave: living with forests.”

The symposium was held to mark the laying of the foundation stone of a new national forest healing centre, which we also visited. I was part of an international team of experts and spoke about “Forests and Health: Current Status, Discussion and Initiatives in Germany.”

This impressive trip showed me once again what a cure and healing forest centre could and, in my opinion, should really be about.

With the further development of the programs of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute for Forest Medicine and Forest Therapy (IWSI) and its partnerships. We want to motivate people to a naturally healthy lifestyle with life-world-related offers and effectiveness-tested programs which are easy to implement, increase energy and improve quality of life. Through the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy, we offer original teachings on Shinrin Yoku according to Dr. Qing Li. The IM-WALD-SEIN® method, which was developed for specific settings, is a complementary form of therapy that always focuses on the empowerment of patients.

This approach is unique in Europe. Integrative medicine specialist, Prof. Dr. Byeonsang Oh from the Sydney Medical School in Australia was a great inspiration for us. I met Prof. Oh in South Korea. I was extremely pleased about that. Prof. Dr. Byeonsang Oh wrote an excellent review on Shinrin Yoku, which I have published in German in my book. I presented our first concept to him during a long bus journey. He was so enthusiastic about it that we discussed all possible medical applications. I am very grateful for Prof. Oh's assessments, suggestions and advice. I am equally grateful for the many excellent discussions with the immunologist Dr. Daniel Rukavina about the importance of natural killer cells in the fight against viruses and cancerous cells.

At the moment, we are also trying to draw the attention of the medical profession to the proven effects of Shinrin Yoku according to Dr. Qing Li and to draw interest in applying forest therapy according to the IM-WALD-SEIN® Method. Because it is quite astonishing: therapeutic landscapes and therapeutic landscape experiencing are studied by many sciences, but they hardly seem to be a topic of interest to medical professionals. You can find out more on our IWSI website.

It was very strange. But I'm grateful that my family and friends are healthy and that everyone in my private and professional life has somehow made the best of the restrictions. A colleague at the IWSI works in a leading position at a large Munich hospital group. Due to the pandemic, she started work at six o'clock in the morning for months with her own initiative, voluntarily took the whole day off and organized a telephone consulting service for the employees. I admire her energy and flexibility. Another friend runs a rehabilitation sports studio. The business was closed for a very long time due to the pandemic. I admire her positivity and creativity in dealing with the coronavirus restrictions.

The pandemic has hardly caused any restrictions for our company. Personally, I am a resilient person and can deal well with problems and challenges. Of course, I have been and am currently spending even more time outdoors to strengthen my immune system and get a bit of a holiday feeling with the help of regular micro adventures.