Forest therapy

Forest therapy is an element of climatotherapy that can be used specifically for preventive and therapeutic, but also rehabilitative purposes.

Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku in Japanese) or forest therapy has a long tradition in Japan and South Korea. During a stay in the forest, all human senses are addressed. Depending on the type of forest (deciduous, mixed or coniferous forest) the forest has its specific forest climate. The forest climate is characterised by the following health-promoting elements: high air quality and reduction of air pollutants lead to relief of the respiratory tract and skin as well as systemic effects (including on the heart and blood vessels), high air humidity relieves the respiratory tract, low air temperatures increase physical performance and invigorate, special light conditions improve mood and convey a feeling of security, plants, trees, wood, forest soil and earth are also good for the psyche.

The term "spa or healing forest" stands for a specific forest area, which is intended as a setting for concrete preventive or therapeutic or rehabilitative measures. A spa or healing forest should fulfil certain criteria (Schuh et al. 2013, Criteria Catalogue). Based on these criteria, a medicinal forest was opened in Heringsdorf on Usedom in 2017.

We scientifically accompany the development of spa and medicinal forests as well as the evaluation of potential effects of forest baths and forest therapy nationally and internationally and offer:

• Consultation in planning and development of a spa and medicinal forest for preventive, therapeutic or rehabilitative purposes
• Evaluation studies on forest therapy (scientific conception, planning and implementation of studies)
• Further training to become a forest health trainer (starting in spring 2019) and forest therapist (from 2021) in cooperation with the Ärztegesellschaft für Präventionsmedizin und klassische Naturheilverfahren Kneippärztebund e.V. in Bad Wörishofen

In September 2019 our book "Waldtherapie - das Potenzial des Waldes" was published by Springer Nature Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-662-59025-6.