In conversation｜Dr. Melanie H. Adamek on the therapeutic potential of forests

Exactly. That was my initial thought too when I first heard about Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing. As a dog owner, I spend almost every day in the forest and really enjoy these little micro-adventures right on my doorstep. But I never really questioned whether these relaxing moments in the forest actually had concrete health benefits—until I came across an article about Shinrin Yoku and had a very personal experience.

In Japan, Forest Medicine—a scientific discipline initiated by Dr. Qing Li—studies the forest as a place of health from an interdisciplinary perspective. The immunological studies, many of which I reference in my book, are fascinating and clearly show how beneficial spending time in the forest can be. I’m convinced that people would see the forest in a completely different light if they understood more about its tremendous health effects.

I find that term more open and accurate. “Forest bathing” is the English translation of the Japanese term Shinrin Yoku. Shinrin means forest, and Yoku can be translated as bathing—in the sense of immersing yourself in the forest’s atmosphere. In English, it’s called forest bathing, and in South Korea, the term forest healing is often used.

When forest bathing is guided by trained professionals in forest medicine, it’s referred to as Shinrin Therapy or Forest Therapy. In my book, I propose the following definition, which has since been adopted by other experts:

“Forest therapy in Japan describes the practice of health-promoting recreational activities in a specific forest environment, conducted under the supervision of medically trained personnel, aiming for a holistic improvement of health and well-being—with measurable relaxation effects.”

So, “being in the forest” is actually more fitting because it describes the core goal of these practices. By simply being present in the forest, immersing yourself in its atmosphere, perceiving it fully, and noticing what the forest does to you, you create the essential conditions for stress reduction and relaxation.

Because there is a wealth of credible evidence showing that spending relaxed time in the forest promotes health. Reliable research demonstrates that being in the forest is good for the soul, reduces stress and mental fatigue, and activates important immune cells.

It’s an ideal preventive measure—one that may even help protect against the development of cancer. In my book, you’ll find many studies, especially important meta-analyses. These gather existing data and evaluate research findings according to strict scientific standards. The results—so-called reviews—provide a clear overview of the current state and quality of the research.

Secondary research shows, on the one hand, that many studies already exist and that Shinrin Yoku and forest bathing have positive effects on a variety of conditions such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, COPD, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure.

Furthermore, forest therapy programs are currently being studied to determine which interventions have therapeutic benefits. I find this particularly exciting, and our IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy is also conducting research on these topics.

Exactly. There’s a lot of evidence suggesting that spending time in the forest can be an effective complementary therapy, for example in treating depression or supporting cancer treatment—especially when guided by qualified practitioners with a medical background.

One example of such a program is the Nacadia Forest Therapy Garden in Denmark. Since 2011, people with stress-related conditions like burnout or mental exhaustion have been treated there using nature-based therapy. This includes elements like individual talk therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, sensory awareness, gardening, and creating nature-based stories and symbols as metaphors for one’s own life.

Together with an interdisciplinary team—including the forest medicine icon Dr. Qing Li—I founded the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy in 2019. It primarily addresses healthcare professionals and institutions, teaching doctors, alternative practitioners, therapists, and medically trained personnel how to apply Shinrin Yoku according to Dr. Qing Li and forest therapy using the IM-WALD-SEIN® method.

That’s a tough question to answer precisely. But the healing power of nature is deeply embedded in many cultures. Long before modern medicine existed, people relied on herbs, roots, rituals, and their connection to the natural world to treat illnesses.

As Paracelsus said in the 15th century, “The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician.” Even in ancient times, cities were designed with nature in mind—for example, under Cyrus the Great in Persia, who built extensive garden complexes. Indigenous peoples still practice medical traditions closely linked to the forest.

A well-known example from Germany are the lung sanatoria built in forested areas during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They intentionally used the pure forest air to help cure tuberculosis—with remarkable success.

Today, this ancient wisdom is experiencing a revival. Forest healing centers, therapeutic forests, and health resorts are emerging in Japan, South Korea, the US, and Germany. Practices like Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, and Forest Mindfulness bring the forest’s healing power back into everyday life. And modern forest therapy is gradually being integrated into clinical care—supported by science and applied therapeutically.

While here in Germany the topic of forest and health—often under the label of forest bathing—is sometimes seen as a somewhat esoteric matter, and at times even treated, in my view, almost embarrassingly superficially, South Korea pursues a comprehensive forest healing policy. Their motto is “From cradle to grave: Living with forests.”

The symposium was held to mark the groundbreaking of a new national Forest Healing Center, which we also had the chance to visit. I was part of an international team of experts and spoke on “Forest and health: Current status, discussions, and initiatives in Germany.”

This impressive journey once again showed me what a forest therapy and healing forest program could—and in my opinion should—really be about.

We are focusing on further developing the programs at the IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute for Forest Medicine and Forest Therapy, as well as strengthening our partnerships. Our goal is to motivate people toward a naturally healthy lifestyle with practical, evidence-based programs that fit everyday life—easy to implement, for more vitality and quality of life.

Through the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy, we teach Dr. Qing Li’s Shinrin Yoku. Within therapeutic treatment settings, the IM-WALD-SEIN® method serves as a complementary therapy that always prioritizes empowering patients.

This approach is unique in Europe. We were greatly inspired by Prof. Dr. Byeonsang Oh, an integrative medicine specialist at Sydney Medical School, Australia, whom I met in South Korea. I was truly delighted. Prof. Oh wrote an excellent review of Shinrin Yoku, which I adapted into German for my book. During a long bus ride, I presented him with our first concept. He was so enthusiastic that we discussed many possible medical applications. I am very grateful for Prof. Oh’s insights, suggestions, and advice. Likewise, I value the many enriching conversations with immunologist Dr. Daniel Rukavina about the importance of natural killer cells in fighting viruses and cancerous cells.

Currently, we are also working to raise awareness among physicians about the proven benefits of Dr. Qing Li’s Shinrin Yoku and to inspire them to adopt forest therapy based on the IM-WALD-SEIN® method. It’s quite astonishing—therapeutic landscapes and the experience of healing environments are studied by many scientific fields, yet it seems this topic hardly reaches the medical profession. You can learn more about this on our institute’s website.