Efek Forest Bathing pada Kardiovaskular, Respon Inflamasi, Psikologi, dan Neurologi: Sebuah Tinjauan Sistematis

Terdapat hubungan antara manusia, lingkungan, dan kesehatan. Hidup dekat dengan alam mampu memberikan efek salutogenik pada kesehatan. Forest bathing memberikan kesempatan manusia untuk kembali hidup dekat dengan alam. Sejak dimulai pada tahun 1982, penelitian - penelitian terkait forest bathing banyak di lakukan di Jepang melaporkan berbagai efek fisiologis dan psikologis setelah terapi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh forest bathing pada berbagai sistem tubuh manusia. Tinjauan sistematis dilakukan dengan menggunakan kata kunci “forest bathing”, “forest theraphy”, dan “shinrin-yoku”. Pencarian ini digabungkan dengan operator Boolean AND/OR. Metode pencarian pada basis data elektronik yang dicari termasuk PubMed Central, PubMed, Cohrane Library dan Google Schoolar. Tinjauan sistematis ini melibatkan 23 studi eksperimental. Forest bathing memiliki pengaruh pada kardiovaskular, respon inflamasi, psikologi, dan neurologi. Forest bathing memiliki efek fisiologis dan psikologis sehingga dapat bermanfaat bagi kebutuhan penelitian di masa depan serta berpotensi sebagai terapi komplementer yang dapat di lakukan di Indonesia.

Evaluating In Silico the Potential Health and Environmental Benefits of Houseplant Volatile Organic Compounds for an Emerging ‘Indoor Forest Bathing’ Approach

The practice of spending time in green areas to gain the health benefits provided by trees is well known, especially in Asia, as ‘forest bathing’, and the consequent protective and experimentally detectable effects on the human body have been linked to the biogenic volatile organic compounds released by plants. Houseplants are common in houses over the globe and are particularly appreciated for aesthetic reasons as well for their ability to purify air from some environmental volatile pollutants indoors. However, to the best of our knowledge, no attempt has been made to describe the health benefits achievable from houseplants thanks to the biogenic volatile organic compounds released, especially during the day, from some of them. Therefore, we performed the present study, based on both a literature analysis and in silico studies, to investigate whether the volatile compounds and aerosol constituents emitted by some of the most common houseplants (such as peace lily plant, Spathiphyllum wallisii, and iron plant, Aspidistra eliator) could be exploited in ‘indoor forest bathing’ approaches, as proposed here for the first time not only in private houses but also public spaces, such as offices, hospitals, and schools. By using molecular docking (MD) and other in silico methodologies for estimating vapor pressures and chemico-physical/pharmacokinetic properties prediction, we found that β-costol is an organic compound, emitted in appreciable amounts by the houseplant Spathiphyllum wallisii, endowed with potential antiviral properties as emerged by our MD calculations in a SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (main protease) inhibition study, together with sesquirosefuran. Our studies suggest that the anti-COVID-19 potential of these houseplant-emitted compounds is comparable or even higher than known Mpro inhibitors, such as eugenol, and sustain the utility of houseplants as indoor biogenic volatile organic compound emitters for immunity boosting and health protection.

Forest Bathing: A New Attraction and Disaster Mitigation for Batur UNESCO Global Geopark Bali

Forests have ecological and sociological functions, including tourism development as well as disaster mitigation efforts. In the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic that hit Bali tourism, it is necessary to develop new types of tourism such as this forest bathing. This research intends to study the potential and opportunities of bamboo forests in the Batur Geopark area to be used as new types of tourism, which at the same time can also be used as a disaster mitigation. A case study method with qualitative data collection includes observation, in-depth interviews, and literature study. A mapping plan for the bamboo forest area is also carried out to support the facilities and infrastructure for forest bathing activities. Bamboo has been used for the restoration of areas affected by the fire at Geopark Batur. However, no one has specifically offered the concept of Forest Bathing. Introducing forest bathing as a new attraction to revive Bali tourism and at the same time to preserve the environment is possible and necessary. Furthermore, there is important to develop destination branding and marketing for the forest bathing attraction.

The challenges of forest bathing tourism in Indonesia: A case study in Sudaji Village, Bali

Forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku in Japanese is known as a traditional practice of engaging oneself in nature by using all five senses. This practice provides some preventive health and healing functions, but more examples of good practice are still needed. Concerning the scientific evidence related to the effect of forest bathing in promoting health, this study aims to identify the potential of a traditional agricultural landscape in Sudaji Village as forest-bathing tourism. Landscape Characteristic Assessment was used to analyze the potentials and constraints of various landscape types and to propose a recommendation for bridging towards sustainable rural tourism. Findings show that Sudaji Village has a high potential to promote its forested landscape, agricultural land, and Subak as its socio-ecological system, river, mountain, as well as socio-cultural activities related to agriculture. Furthermore, the use of all human five senses is strongly related to Panca Tan Matra’s philosophical concept that is believed to be the way to communicate with God. This study promotes the potential of forest bathing as a prospective rural development strategy through tourism. In addition, strengthening the role of local communities is crucial to ensure that their natural and cultural resources of great potential be developed as tourist objects and attractions.

Influence of Informal Education in the Forest Stand Redevelopment Area on the Psychological Restoration of Working Adults

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, a significant part of the human population lives and works in urban agglomerations. Limited contact with nature, polluted air, stress, and a sedentary work style all contribute to problems with the physical and mental health of a considerable number of city dwellers. There are many studies indicating the positive, restorative properties of natural environments, such as forests, on human well-being. Our aim was to investigate whether suburban commercial forests in combination with informal environmental education can bring restorative properties to people, especially those who are economically active. Materials and Methods: Four psychological questionnaires were used to determine the restorative properties of a suburban commercial forest on young active people: the Profile of Mood Scale (POMS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). The experiment involved 60 participants who took forest baths (the act of spending time in a forest and opening your senses to the natural surroundings to experience feelings of peace and wellbeing) in a suburban commercial forest surrounding Świdnik, a city of 40,000 inhabitants located directly next to Lublin (a provincial city with a population of 339,811). The volunteers were divided into three groups; Group A walked an educational route with educational boards (route A1). Group B walked another route with a forest educator who described various forest management activities conducted in this forest (route A2). Group C walked alone, without an educator, along route A2. All three groups arrived at the site of forest stand redevelopment as the end of their route. After a short 10-min exposure to this site, the volunteers again completed the psychological questionnaires. Results: Our study clearly indicates a positive effect from forest bathing in suburban commercial forests. Both the walk with a forest educator and the walk along the educational trail supported psychological recovery for the participants of the experiment, which shows that informal environmental education carried out in forests can be successfully combined with forest bathing, supporting the positive effects of this activity.

A Qualitative Study Comparing Mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): Practitioners’ Perspectives

The boundary between mindfulness and forest bathing, two conceptually related therapies, is unclear. Accordingly, this study reports the strengths and challenges, similarities and differences, and barriers and facilitators for both. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven trained and experienced practitioners of both mindfulness and forest bathing. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four main themes: (i) differences between the approaches; (ii) the benefits of forest bathing; (iii) biophilia through forest bathing; and (iv) inward versus outward attentional focus as a distinction between the approaches. Both practices were found to benefit well-being, but practitioners revealed key barriers to mindfulness. For vulnerable groups experiencing mental health challenges or difficulties achieving a meditative state, mindfulness may introduce well-being risks. By offering a gentler, more intuitive approach that encourages outward attentional focus, forest bathing was found to overcome this barrier. Forest bathing is suitable for all groups, but adaptations are recommended for those expressing fear or discomfort in forested environments. The findings inform how to position both approaches in practice, as a first step towards social prescribing recommendations. Wider implications concern forest bathing’s potential to impact environmental well-being. Future research must garner comparative data, involve young people, and explore the feasibility of a forest bathing social prescription.