January 5, 2010
Forest therapy (2)
Three factors of forest therapy effects
There are three main factors of forest therapy effects.
1. Aroma- Phytoncide
Phytoncide means the aroma of forest. This is collective term of volatile substance composed mostly of Terpenes spread mainly from woods and is reported to have the effect to decrease the blood pressure level. In addition Phytoncide protects woods with the effect of growth inhibition against other plants and the bactericidal effect. This is the strongest self-defense system of plants obtained in the process of evolution.
2. Colors - therapy effect of green color
Everyone gets the different images from the color. Recent psychological research finds universal trends that people feel to colors. Green color decrease the blood pressure level and stress level. People can decrease stress with plants in plain view and lots of companies placed plants in their offices. We can also have relaxing effects through the green color of woods in the forest.
3. Sounds – harmony in the nature
The sounds in the nature prevent us from noises and also make us relaxed with the sound called 1/f noise. 1/f noise means the sound in between sounds with orders and those without orders. They includes the sounds of leaves of a tree, of ripples on the sea and so on. And other research finds that sounds of stream decrease the blood pressure level.
In addition to these three main factors, we feel more relaxed in the forest when we touch woods, leaves and grounds and taste the spring water.
Shown above, forests have positive effects to our health. Why don’t we take a walk in the mountain or forest to decrease the stress level and to have healthy lives?
