Forest bathing and Phytoncides

In Japan there is a name for it, ‘Shinrinyoku’, forest bathing.  A forest bathing trip involves walking or just relaxing in the natural beauty of a forest whilst breathing in Phytoncides (wood essential oils).  Phytoncides are anti microbial volatile organic compounds given off by plants and trees, predominantly Oak, Cedar and Pine that protects them from decay or being attacked or eaten by insects or animals.  

A previous article on Rawpt, ‘We need urban biodiversity to lower chronic health conditions’ explores how many scientists believe that human health depends on a rich diverse ecosystem and that the health of our own microbiome is dependent on biodiversity in surrounding nature.