Hug a tree?

No, no, it's not a crazy idea! Let's get to know this popular therapy that has been offered as a cure in several countries for a long time.

Do you want to improve your well-being? Or do you simply love trees?

Perhaps you are familiar with this relaxation technique?

It is called " sylvotherapy" . It became popular in the 80s and was imported from Japan, hence its real name, shirin-yoku, which means "forest wood " , while the Americans gave it the name " tree hugging" . According to the Japanese specialist doctor, Dr. Qing Li, the world expert in sylvotherapy & immunologist at the Department of Hygiene and Public Health of the Tokyo University of Medicine, also a founding member of the Japanese Society of sylvotherapy and who has been leading the most advanced research on the subject since 2005: "simple forest bathing can have a preventive effect on health, among other things, reducing stress caused by anxiety, depression and anger, increasing vitality, strengthening the immune system, helping with insomnia, etc. It has been proven that a forest environment leads to a decrease in cortisol (stress hormone)". ^1,2,3

How to practice it?

We choose a tree that attracts us, then we hug its trunk. We press our cheek against it, we close our eyes, we breathe slowly, deeply and we empty our mind and we savor the calm that invades us.

Don't have any trees at home? Why not take a walk in a nearby park or plant a tree at a friend's house?

And for complete relaxation! We recommend a half-day stress-reducing forest bath, just sit for about 2 hours and walk 2-3 kilometers.

So let's go out and enjoy this beautiful nature, let's observe these trees that surround us and which, throughout the seasons, are a wonderful spectacle for the eyes. They are so fascinating.

So when will we get a little hug for these precious lungs of the Earth?

Suggestion : If circumstances prevent us from going out, a spritz of the Sapin room fragrance or one of the fir or cedar scented oils will help us soak up or remember, at all times, this gentle atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. Why not?

1. Dr. Qing Li “Shinrin-yoku, The Art and Science of Forest Bathing ”
2. Choi, JH, Kim, HJ, Shin, CS, Yeon, PS, Lee, JS, 2016, The effect of 12 weeks of forest walking on functional fitness, self-efficacy, and stress in middle-aged women, The Journal of Korea Forest Recreation Institute, 20(3), 27-38 (in Korean with English abstract). https://doi.org/10.34272/forest.2016.20.3.003
3. A qualitative study comparing mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing): practitioners' perspectives https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/12/6761/htm