Leaves rustle underfoot, the wind softly sweeps through the treetops, and somewhere a cuckoo cries or a lark sings. Then something amazing happens: Your stress melts away and anxiety subsides – measurably, in fact.
Studies have shown that even a small dose of nature can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, notes Anja Goeritz, a psychology professor at the University of Freiburg in Germany. The “green factor” appears to play a role in this but isn’t essential, she says. Spending time by the sea or in the mountains can work as well.
“Just walking around the block is better than not walking around the block,” remarks Dr Andreas Michalsen, head of the Naturopathy Department at Immanuel Hospital in Berlin. What’s important isn’t how long you’re outside, he says, but making sure that a breath of fresh air is an integral part of your day.
Nature offers us a potpourri of benefits, Michalsen says. Quiet is one. Noise, which is particularly prevalent in cities, has long been recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, stroke, sleep disorders and depression.
Then there are the scents of the forest – the so-called terpenes, a group of volatile, unsaturated hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants, especially conifers and citrus trees – that elevate your mood and are thought to strengthen the immune system.
“Even a freshly mown lawn exudes this typical smell,” says Michalsen, “but flowers and a moist forest floor convey this impression as well.” At the seaside, he adds, substances such as brine, fluorine and iodine are good for the skin and respiratory passages.
Annette Bernjus gives seminars on “forest bathing,” which is a Japanese tradition. Participants stroll through a forest to commune with nature and otherwise do nothing. “You should forget about time and start smelling and tasting again,” Bernjus says.
The watchword, in other words, is “back to nature.” An increasing number of forest owners in Germany have recognised this trend and seek to have their property certified as “recreational forests” by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation that promotes sustainable forest management.
“The forests don’t only have to managed sustainably,” notes Dirk Teegelbekkers, managing director of the PEFC’s German branch. “Proven conflict management is also important to us” so that “forest bathers” don’t disturb joggers or mountain bikers, for example.
Speaking of jogging, it’s positive effects are magnified when you run in natural surroundings, according to Michalsen – so long as the exertion is moderate and mindful, as in forest bathing, and not intensive marathon training.
“Your sojourn in nature should be voluntary and at your own pace, in which case it’s healthy,” Goeritz says.
Could it be that we forget our everyday cares when we’re out in the open air because we’re closer to our evolutionary roots? As Michalsen remarks, “We’re attuned to life outdoors, not in a building with artificial light and a lift.”
There’s a reason that people prefer open spaces with trees and some water where you can survey the scenery, Bernjus says: “It reminds us of the savannah.”
But what if you don’t have a natural landscape nearby? In that case, the experts advise, you could simply have lunch in the park instead of the staff canteen, for instance – whatever you prefer and is possible. The main thing is to go outdoors. – dpa
