What is forest bathing that Princess Kate has advocated for fighting cancer?

The Princess of Wales, Catherine, has frequently advocated for forest bathing.

She was diagnosed with cancer in March of last year, but the therapy has now taken on a deeper meaning for her.

“Don’t forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease,” she says.

Here’s a detailed look at forest bathing and its endless benefits.

Princess Kate’s love for forest bathing

Before appearing with Prince William and their children, Princess Kate shared a picture of herself standing beneath a willow tree in Windsor and looking up into the sky.

In the statement, the Princess of Wales said, “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times."

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well,” she added.

“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”

“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.”

“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”

“Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.” The Princess of Wales signed her statement off with her initial C.

In the picture, captured by Matt Porteous, Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People magazine, “There she is in nature, which has fortified her, and looking upward in a sign of real hope and encouragement for everybody.”

The Princess of Wales was inspired by the Japanese practice of ‘shinrin yoku’ (which also means ‘taking in the forest atmosphere’.)

In fact, when she was the Duchess of Cambridge, she even co-designed a garden at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show.

What is forest bathing?

Forest bathing, or ‘shinrin yoku,’ is a Japanese practice of being calm and quiet in nature and experiencing the forest with full presence.

In contrast to hiking, which allows the mind to still dwell on work or difficult relationships, forest bathing is an act of mindfulness that uses all five senses to bring the mind into the present.

The term, which originated in the 1980s, was coined by the Japanese government after the country, which is fairly urban, faced a public health crisis of stress and an increase in autoimmune diseases.

In addition to providing an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout, the goal was to encourage citizens to re-establish a connection with and save the nation’s forests.

How to do it?

The basic practices of forest bathing include taking a stroll in any natural setting, taking deep breaths, and intentionally interacting with your surroundings.

One can also go on a meditative two- to three-hour ecotherapy journey with experienced guides for a more structured experience.

Author and happiness researcher Helen Russell, who wrote The Year of Living Danishly, told The Independent, “I’ve long been a fan of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, since researching happiness in Japan. No water is required for forest bathing – it’s simply spending time with trees for the purpose of relaxation. And there’s a surprising amount of science to back it up.”

What are its benefits?

Forest bathing has numerous mental health benefits.

The practice promotes better mental and emotional wellness as opposed to hiking, which focuses on increasing physical fitness.

For people with anxiety, the practice can calm their nervous system as their attention shifts from their worries to noticing the natural elements all around them. These outcomes can also be measured scientifically.

The idea is that breathing phytoncides, which are released by trees, causes biological changes and increases the production of natural killer cells, which are the body’s essential first line of defence against viruses and tumours, according to Professor Qing Li of Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.

According to a few previous studies conducted in Japan, diabetes patients’ blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and pulse rates can all be lowered by taking in the scenery of forests and going for a three- or six-kilometre stroll through them.

“Forest bathing is an opportunity for people to take time out, slow down, and connect with nature. Even just 20 minutes can help. Evidence about its benefits is building,” Stuart Dainton, Woodland Trust, was quoted by The Independent.

A 2018 study by King’s College London discovered that exposure to trees, the sky, and birdsong in cities enhanced mental wellness even hours after exposure.

Other studies have shown that it can also boost memory and focus and lower cortisol (the stress hormone).

Forest bathing may boost immune cell activity and promote the expression of anti-cancer proteins, per studies.

“Forest bathing can be beneficial for everyone, but it is particularly advantageous for individuals living in urban environments,” Dr Harsono was quoted by Stanford. “Urban dwellers typically experience higher stress levels, noise pollution, and reduced access to natural settings. Forest bathing provides them a valuable opportunity to escape these stressors and experience improved well-being through connection with nature.”

It would seem that forest bathing is only feasible for those who live in rural areas, but it has been found that adolescents who live in cities might also experience a sense of peace by engaging in urban forest bathing, which involves being aware of a nearby park.

With inputs from agencies