When the good weather arrives, the buds appear and hatch, the pollen floats in the air and, if it triggers allergies in some, it awakens an appetite for nature in many city dwellers. It's time to take the grandchildren for the weekend and go for a walk at the lake or for a walk in the forest. And why deprive yourself of it, since it would also be good for your health? Because yes, apart from the morale that is reassured, there are many proven beneficial effects on our mental and physical health. And if some practice it as an autodidact by simply strolling in the forest and would never have imagined that it could be a therapeutic practice, it is nevertheless the case! It even has a name:sylvotherapy. So what is it exactly? And what are the benefits?
Sylvotherapy as such was really formalized in the 1980s in Japan. She bears the sweet name of Shinrin-yoku in the land of the rising sun. and has become a real phenomenon there. As early as 1982, a government body included forest cures in its health recommendations. More than 60 areas of the country are now classified as "therapeutic bases", certified by a dedicated company, which also trains and certifies therapists who serve as guides there. These roads welcome millions of visitors every year. There is a strong cultural dimension to this phenomenon in Japan - the country is known for its density and its overcrowded and stuffy cities - which makes Shinrin-yoku so popular there, but that does not mean that the practice could not be exported. .
After all, we didn't wait around here for the end of the 20th century either to go for a walk in the woods and pick up mushrooms. There are also antecedents to this practice in therapeutic form, in fact very old. From Antiquity, some sang the praises of forest miasmas. As for the sanatoria where tuberculosis was once treated, they were generally placed in nature, and more particularly in the forests of pines and firs, the conifers having the reputation of treating pulmonary affections, and walks were an integral part of the treatment. . Even today, cure centers of all kinds are generally found in remote places, in the mountains or in the forest, far from the stale air of cities.
A practice with ancient roots. And to practice it today, nothing could be simpler. A forest bath is nothing more than its name suggests. Go there and disconnect. If the hugging of a tree can be part of the practice, which has a tendency to be reduced to it by the mocking spirits, it is actually only one of the therapeutic tools recommended by the guides in sylvotherapy. It is rather a question of going to a green corner, of resting there or walking there, of practicing bodily exercises there... In the manner of meditation, the practitioners of sylvotherapy are distinguished from simple walkers by their full awareness of their actions. They solicit all their senses to absorb the forest. Some followers even affirm that it is possible to practice in town, tending one's attention towards any green space or any tree that one crosses, even if the best remains undeniably a forest, and moreover a natural environment where all forms are mixed. of trees and plants. Alone or accompanied, it is according to the tastes and the occasion. On the other hand, to benefit from the positive effects on health of sylvotherapy, you really have to immerse yourself in the forest:a few hours at least are necessary.
In Japan or elsewhere, the benefits of this practice have no reason to be different. It is well known, for example, that trees make oxygen from carbon dioxide, so it is not far-fetched to assume that the air around them has special properties.
Among the proven effects of these forest baths, it has been proven that the level of cortisol in the blood decreases following long walks in the forest. However, this hormone is at the origin of stress, itself the source of many mental and physical ailments. There is also a decrease in blood pressure as well as heart rate in participants. No need to be a neo-hippie to believe in these scientifically proven effects. Other positive effects would be felt, especially on memory. For example, forest baths could slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
In short, it would therefore be a real makeover. So why not go out for some fresh air to fight against old age? There are still worse as a treatment. And if the followers of the practice may tend to exaggerate the benefits, it is undeniable that a walk in the forest has effects similar to those of relaxation. In chromotherapy, green, dominant in this environment, is also known for its soothing properties. Going green is not just an expression. And that's not all:according to supporters of forest bathing, each tree has different properties, linked to the symbolism specific to each:the willow comforts and soothes, for example, while the oak, strong and robust, generates a feeling of security. The beech would give self-confidence, and the cypress, symbol of mourning and cemeteries, would help to face one's anxieties, especially morbid ones! And so on…
Moreover, autosuggestion undoubtedly plays a certain role in the benefits attributed to this practice, but that does not make it less effective, placebo effect or not. It is true on this subject that the practice is not recognized, and that anyone can declare themselves a guide in sylvotherapy. Just beware of charlatans. But the advantage of sylvotherapy is that we can all practice it - and you don't need to spend a euro for it, except maybe to go to the forest. So even if you doubt the effectiveness of a forest bath on your health, why not give it a try? All it will have cost you is a nice ride. Fortunately, nature still belongs to everyone, so don't be selfish and take the little ones there. You can also combine business with pleasure and learn to recognize the different species of trees, or go picking to prepare a good dinner on your way home.
Finally, a quick word on the famous hugs, which do not fail to illustrate any article on the subject. As we said above, sylvotherapy is not just about hugging trees. The guides integrate it into their practice but remember that it is not compulsory:it depends above all on how they feel. We can therefore embrace, kiss, and why not even taste a tree, but no need to force ourselves. However, if you feel the need, know that this practice is not so trivial. The trees are indeed covered with mosses and lichens of all kinds, but also insect marks. The unluckiest could therefore end their forest cure with itching, or have an inopportune encounter with a processionary caterpillar or even a hornet. And then, not sure that the soothing virtues of this forest bath will be felt... So be careful before throwing yourself on the first tree you come across.
