nature as medicine thread

i lived in Okinawa

a predominantly Shinto island

there i learned of "shinrin-yoku" or "forest bathing"

based on ancient Buddhist & Shinto practices

1 immerses all 5 senses while laying on forest floor

not camping

0 effort is

#GreatAwakening

Japan's Forest Ministry has pumped millions into research since 1982

Scientists at Chiba University found forest walks compared 2 urban:

12.4 % in stress hormone cortisol

7 % in sympathetic nerve activity

1.4 % in blood pressure, and a 5.8 percent decrease in heart rate

while much attention has been paid 2 the benefits of nature subjectively

Japanese scientists take step further

documenting what actually is occurring 2 our cells & neurons

this research is considered the Rosetta Stone in this field (nature therapy)

researchers from Nippon Medical School in Tokyo

using field test

hormone analysis

new brain-imaging technology

2 uncover how the magic works on a molecular level

taking Thoreau's romantic appreciation to levels of actual biological benefits

biophilia is inherent 2 humans according 2 researchers

our affinity 2 nature is believed to be encoded purposefully

since we evolved there we desire 2 seek it out even if we do not know it or how or why

God has given us nature for more than aesthetic reasons

we have spent 99.9% of our time in a natural environment throughout our evolution

we are still physiologically adapted 2 it

In everyday life, a feeling of comfort can be achieved if our rhythms are synchronized with those of the environment

other countries are following Japan’s lead

South Korea >pouring $140 million into a new National Forest Therapy Center,

Finland, rich in boreal spruce & pine, Finnish Forest Research Institute. is also funding numerous studies

psychologists @ University of Kansas & University of Utah found:

after 3 days of hiking & camping in the wilderness

participants in an Outward Bound course improved their scores on tests of creativity by 50 percent

turning off frontal lobe disco ball spurs creativity

University of Michigan shrinks found that subjects presented with images of nature:

subjects’ directed-attention capabilities recovered

performed significantly better on cognitive tests
felt happier

even behaved less selfishly when playing computer games

Studies have shown that when subjects look at pictures of nature

hemoglobin levels drop in the prefrontal cortex

the home base of executive function had switched a few lights off

a technique Tibetan monks have perfected

researchers took group of Tokyo businessmen into woods

for 3 days they hiked in the morning & again in the afternoon

blood tests showed that their NK(natural killer immune) cells had 40%

by contrast same group during urban walking trips had NK that went unchanged

trees give off aromatic volatile substances aka scents called phytoncides

aerosols such as pinenes & limonenes

over 100 identified in forest

almost 0 in urban settings

soil compounds contain actinomycetes

human nose can detect @ 10 parts per trillion

these boost NK cells

NK cells in a petri dish:

in presence of aromatic cypress molecules

also in anti-cancer proteins & proteases like granulysin, granzymes A and B, & perforin

these cause tumor cells 2 destruct

cypress oil in humidifier over nite = massive benefits

nature based recreation in USA 35% last 40yrs

cancer rates

these researchers are showing there is more 2 it than just relaxing & looking at pretty scenes

our bodies genes crave these NK boosters

soft fascination like looking at a butterfly slows prefrontal cortex down

in summary Shinrin-yoku:

Boosted immune system & (NK) cells
blood pressure
stress
mood
ability 2 focus
recovery from surgery/ illness
energy level
sleep

now go frens

find a forest
be the forest

we have 5 senses 4 a reason

wake em all

#QAnon #GreatAwakening

@threadreaderapp please please pleaaaase unroll