Elucidation of a physiological adjustment effect in a forest environment: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Human Physiology
• Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

• Exposure to forest environments is linked to improved physical and mental health.
• Individual variability in responses to nature exposure presents a complex research area.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing nature-based health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological effects of forest environments on individuals with varying baseline health metrics.
• To determine if forest environments exhibit a personalized physiological adjustment effect.
• To compare the physiological responses in forest versus urban settings.

Main Methods:

• Recruited subjects with diverse initial physiological values (e.g., blood pressure, pulse rate).
• Monitored physiological changes after walking in a forest environment.
• Monitored physiological changes after walking in an urban environment for comparison.

Main Results:

• Subjects with high initial blood pressure and pulse rate experienced a decrease in these values after forest exposure.
• Subjects with low initial blood pressure and pulse rate experienced an increase in these values after forest exposure.
• No significant physiological adjustment effects were observed in the urban environment, indicating specificity to forest settings.

Conclusions:

• Forest environments demonstrate a unique physiological adjustment capacity, adapting to individual baseline states.
• The health benefits of forests are personalized, providing a regulatory effect towards an optimal physiological level.
• These findings highlight the importance of forest bathing and nature exposure for tailored health and well-being.