OtherHuman2015
Physiological and psychological effects of forest therapy on middle-aged males with high-normal blood pressure.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at whether spending time relaxing in a forest (forest therapy) could lower blood pressure and stress in middle-aged men with high-normal blood pressure. Men walked and did stress-management activities in a forest, and researchers measured their blood pressure, stress hormones, and mood before and after. The study found that forest therapy lowered blood pressure, stress hormones, and negative mood scores. The results suggest forest therapy may help men with borderline high blood pressure avoid progressing to full hypertension.
Key findings
- Forest therapy lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure
- Urinary adrenaline and serum cortisol levels dropped after forest therapy
- Men reported feeling more relaxed and natural after forest therapy
- Negative mood scores (tension, confusion, anger) improved after forest therapy
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Blood pressure and stress hormones were measured before and after in the same men, with no comparison group, so a change over the same few hours from rest alone cannot be separated out.
- Population
- Middle-aged males with high-normal blood pressure
- Funding
- Not reported
- Takeaway
- In middle-aged men whose blood pressure sat at the top of the normal range, this study found that a session of walking and relaxing in a forest lowered blood pressure and stress hormones and left them feeling calmer. The abstract does not say how long the session lasted, and there was no comparison group, so some of the change is simply rest. If your blood pressure is creeping up, it is worth taking your downtime outdoors.