Research

INFTA is actively engaged in an ongoing dialogue with research institutes and organizations nationally and internationally.

It is essential that more research is undertaken in the area of Forest Therapy. We are still, for example, in the infant stages of learning about the positive effects which phytoncides – the bioactive molecules emitted by trees in forests – have on our metabolism.

We also need to develop a better understanding about the recently discovered sociobiological effects, such as ‘biophilia‘ and how the genetically determined ‘nature-connectedness‘ affects our mind and body functions when being deprived of it.

Take a closer look at the research projects and collaborations INFTA is involved in. You may also like to read more in the latest publication on Forest Therapy:

Kotte, D., Li, Q, Shin, W.S. & Michalsen, A. (eds.) (2019). International Handbook of Forest Therapy. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Cambridge Scholars Publishing (in print).

INFTA is involved in a range of national and international research projects. As one initial key project, INFTA has developed the International Core Curriculum of Forest Therapy (ICCFT). It constitutes the curricular framework for the training of Forest Therapy Guides conforming to and setting the international standard. This has been accomplished in 2017 through national and international collaboration of 120+ experts from over 20 countries.

A significant accomplishment was the compilation of the International Handbook of Forest Therapy in 2019 edited by Dieter Kotte, Qing Li, Won Sop Shin and Andreas Michalsen with contributions of some 50 experts from around the world. For the first time – and after some 30+ years of research – the domain of Forest Therapy as a Public health practice was defined and the state of research in the area of Forest Therapy was summarized.

Since 2018, INFTA has been invited repeatedly to assist a range of top-level research and policy institutions in the Peoples Republic of China with regards to fostering and developing Forest Therapy. INFTA feels privileged and honored to assist the Chinese Society of Forestry, represented by its Chairman, Mr. Zhao Shucong, and its affiliated member, the Chinese Society of Forest Therapy, it their endeavours. INFTA liaises directly with Mr. Liu Lijun, President of the Chinese Society of Forest Therapy, and an outspoken advocate for Forest Therapy as a Public health practice. In this context, INFTA appreciates the ongoing assistance – particularly with regards to translations between Chinese/Mandarin and English – of Prof. Ye Bing, Deputy Director of the Academy of Forestry.

In 2020, INFTA and Charité Medical University Hospital (a world-renowned medical research facility with a history of Nobel laureates) lauched a joint research project in 2021 assessing the benefits of Forest Therapy as a public health practice across various types of German forests.

This collaborative research project between INFTA and Charité Berlin has since been successfully concluded. The study’s findings have been published in a peer-reviewed Q1 scientific journal. The article, which validates the benefits of Forest Therapy, is available at this link.

The publication of these results provides strong evidence for integrating Forest Therapy into public health practices, as outlined by INFTA’s research goals.

In Germany, INFTA supports a new and innovative research project funded by the Department of Health and Age Care in Bavaria. The key research question is to find out how Forest Therapy can help reduce the time of rehabilitation for geriatric patients who underwent hospitalization and surgery. In this project, INFTA advises the management of the Klinik Wartenberg, one of the oldest and most reputed medical rehabilitation clinics in Germany at which the pilot study is carried out.

Feel free to read and download interesting research papers and informative background material about Forest Therapy, Shinrin-yoku and mindful walking from around the world at our references page.

Here you can read and download relevant national and international references related to Forest Therapy, Shinrin-yoku, the effects of phytoncides, biophilia and green space as well as related topics. Please note that for reading and printing pdf-files you will need Adobe Acrobat™ or a pdf-reader.

Browse through the extensive list of publications for each country. Then simply click the respective link and the document will automatically download or you are referred to the respective link of the scientific journal where to download the publication from. Enjoy!

Title	Category	Country	Action
A Three-Day Forest-Bathing Retreat Enhances Positive Affect, Vitality, Optimism, and Gratitude: An Option for Green-Care Tourism in Italy? – 2023	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention	Italy	Open
Anti-osteoarthritis potential of peppermint and rosemary essential oils in a nanoemulsion form: behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological evidence – 2021	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	Iran	Open
Antifungal Biofilm Inhibitory Effects of Combinations of Diclofenac and Essential Oils – 2023	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Italy	Open
Can Alpha-Pinene Prevent Methotrexate-Induced Cardiac and Hepatic Damage? – 2024	Phytoncides, Prevention, Public Health	Turkey	Open
Chemical Composition, Biological Activities and In Silico Analysis of Essential Oils of Three Endemic Prangos Species from Turkey – 2022	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Turkey	Open
Combinations of Plant Essential Oil Based Terpene Compounds as Larvicidal and Adulticidal Agent against Aedes aegypti – 2019	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Therapy	India	Open
Comparative In Vitro and In Silico Enzyme Inhibitory Screening of Rosa x damascena and Pelargonium graveolens Essential Oils and Geraniol – 2023	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Turkey	Open
Current Development Status of Forest Therapy in China – 2020	Forest Therapy	China	Open
Demographic, Psychosocial, and Lifestyle-Related Characteristics of Forest Therapy Participants in Italy – 2023	Forest Therapy, Public Health	Italy	Open
Effects of aromatherapy with Matricaria chamomile essential oil on anxiety and hemodynamic indices in patients with acute coronary syndrome – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	India	Open
Effects of Forest Bathing on Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Middle-Aged Individuals – 2017	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Therapy	Taiwan	Open
Effects of forest therapy camp on quality of life and stress in postmenopausal women – 2016	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	South Korea	Open
Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults – 2017	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Therapy	South Korea	Open
Effects of Forest Therapy on Participant-Reported Outcomes among the General Population in Germany – 2025	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Prevention, Public Health	Germany	Open
Effects of stochastic coding on olfactory discrimination in flies and mice – 2023	Phytoncides	India	Open
Effects of Two-Hour Exposure to Forest and Urban Environments in Young Adults – 2015	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Prevention, Public Health	South Korea	Open
Efficacy and safety of alpha-pinene capsule in the management of functional dyspepsia and eradication of helicobacter pylori – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	Iran	Open
Efficacy of a Combined Rosemary and Lavender Topical Ointment in the Treatment of Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee – 2012	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	Egypt	Open
Emotional, Restorative and Vitalizing Effects of Forest and Urban Environments – 2014	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Japan	Open
Entwicklung der natürlichen Ressource Wald zum Kur- und Heilwald – 2015	Forest Therapy, Public Health	Germany	Open
Essential oil composition of Turkish mountain tea (Sideritis spp.) – 2001	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Turkey	Open
Essential Oils as a Potential Neuroprotective Remedy for Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review – 2021	Mental Health, Phytoncides, Prevention, Therapy	Malaysia	Open
Essential Oils: Biological Activity Beyond Aromatherapy – 2018	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	India	Open
Eucalyptus Oils Phytochemical Composition in Correlation with Their Newly Explored Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Potential – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Taiwan	Open
Evidence-Based Status of Forest Healing Program in South Korea – 2021	Forest Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	South Korea	Open
Exploring Forest Therapy as an Adjunct to Treatment as Usual within a Community Health Counselling Service	Forest Therapy, Mental Health	Australia	Open
Forest and Nature Schools in Canada – 2020	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy	Canada	Open
Forest therapy as a trauma-informed approach to disaster recovery: Insights from a wildfire-affected community – 2023	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Therapy	USA	Open
Forest Therapy: An environmental approach to managing stress in middle-aged working women – 2020	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Malaysia	Open
Friluftsliv Scandinavian Philosophy of Outdoor Life – 2000	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Sweden	Open
Gesundheitswirkung von Waldlandschaften – 2016	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy	Austria	Open
Green Cities: Good Health – Stress, Wellness & Physiology – 2020	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	USA	Open
Green Space and Mental Health – 2015	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy	Canada	Open
Greenspace, stress, and health: how is epigenetics involved? – 2024	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	USA	Open
Healthy Nature – Healthy People e-toolkit – 2018	Public Health	USA	Open
Immunsysteme von Pflanzen und Tieren ähnlicher als gedacht – 2017	Nature-based Therapy	Germany	Open
LC-MS based metabolite profiling, in-vitro antioxidant and in-vivo antihyperlipidemic activity of Nigella sativa extract – 2023	Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	India	Open
Leafier Communities, Healthier Hearts: An Australian Cohort Study of 104,725 Adults Tracking Cardiovascular Events and Mortality Across 10 Years of Linked Health Data	Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	Australia	Open
Linking forest naturalness and human wellbeing – A study on public’s experiential connection to remnant forests within a highly urbanized region in Malaysia – 2016	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	Malaysia	Open
Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy	Austria	Open
Mental health value of parks in China – 2023	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy	China	Open
National Trust/University of Derby – Noticing Nature Report 2020	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention	United Kingdom	Open
Natural environments, nature relatedness and the ecological theater – 2016	Nature-based Therapy	Australia	Open
Nature Therapy and Preventive Medicine – 2012	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Japan	Open
Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory and modifies the uncinate fasciculus in older adults – 2023	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Therapy	USA	Open
Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease – 2010	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Sweden	Open
Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Forest Therapy Program on Middle-Aged Females – 2015	Forest Therapy, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Japan	Open
Physiological Effects of Forest Recreation in a Young Conifer Forest – 2009	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention	Finland	Open
Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan – 2016	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Japan	Open
Principles of Forest/Nature School	Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	Canada	Open
Promising phytochemicals of traditional Indian herbal steam inhalation therapy to combat COVID-19 – 2021	Phytoncides, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	India	Open
Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of forest walking compared to urban walking in enhancing mucosal immunity – 2025	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Japan	Open
Restorative effects of urban green environments – 2019	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention	Finland	Open
Studies on essential oil from rose-scented geranium, Pelargonium graveolens – 2019	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	Egypt	Open
The benefits of contact with nature for mental health and well-being – 2010	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy	Australia	Open
The concept of the human-forest relationship (HFR) – Definition and potentials for forest policy research – 2023	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	Finland	Open
The effect of lavender and rosemary aromatherapy application on cognitive functions, anxiety, and sleep quality in the elderly with diabetes – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides	Egypt, Turkey	Open
The effect of lavender and rosemary aromatherapy application on cognitive functions, anxiety, and sleep quality in the elderly with diabetes – 2024	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Therapy	Egypt	Open
The effects and gender-related differences of guided forest therapy program on physiological and psychological health of graduating college students – 2023	Forest Therapy, Mental Health	China	Open
The Effects of Different Natural Environment Influences on Health and Psychological Well-Being of People: A Case Study in Selangor – 2021	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Malaysia	Open
The Forest in World History – 2014	Forest Therapy, Public Health	Germany	Open
The Health Effects of a Forest Environment on Cardiovascular Disease and Quality of Life – 2014	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Taiwan	Open
The importance of species diversity for human well-being in Europe – 2020	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention, Public Health	Germany	Open
The influence of forest therapy camp on depression in alcoholics – 2011	Forest Therapy, Mental Health, Public Health, Therapy	South Korea	Open
The natural capital of city trees – 2017	Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	United Kingdom	Open
The protective effects of alpha-pinene on high glucose-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HepG2 cells – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Prevention, Public Health, Therapy	Iran	Open
The Role of Social Context in Physiological and Psychological Restoration in a Forest – 2021	Forest Therapy, Mental Health	Taiwan	Open
The Salutary Influence of Forest Bathing on Elderly Patients with Chronic Heart Failure – 2017	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy	China	Open
The Social Life of Forests – 2020	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy	USA	Open
The therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of Alpha-pinene, Gamma-terpinene, and P-cymene against melanoma cells – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Public Health, Therapy	Turkey	Open
Therapeutic Effect of Forest Bathing on Human Hypertension in the Elderly – 2012	Forest Therapy, Nature-based Therapy	China	Open
Therapeutic Potential of α- and ß-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature – 2019	Nature-based Therapy, Phytoncides, Therapy	Iran	Open
University of Cumbria – Connection with nature in the UK during the COVID-19 lockdown – 2020	Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	United Kingdom	Open
University of East Anglia/Nautilus – When Plants Go to War – 2020	Nature-based Therapy	United Kingdom	Open
What makes nature-based interventions for mental health successful – 2017	Mental Health, Nature-based Therapy, Therapy	United Kingdom	Open
WHO Physical Activity Factsheet – 2024	Nature-based Therapy, Public Health	Sweden	Open
Zur Gesundheitswirkung von Waldlandschaften – 2014	Nature-based Therapy, Prevention	Austria	Open
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The International Handbook of Forest Therapy

The first International Handbook of Forest Therapy defines the scientific domain of this innovative, evidence-based and timely public health approach. More than 50 authors from around the world are brought together to offer their expertise and insights about forest therapy from a variety of research perspectives. The theoretical discussion of the effects related to the biophilia hypothesis presented here is complemented by research results compiled across the last three decades in the fields of forest medicine and biochemistry from Asia. The book also highlights the latest developments with regards to forest therapy in a number of different countries, ranging from China and Australia to Germany and Austria. The handbook constitutes a major milestone in research in this field. It sets the baseline for forest therapy to be implemented worldwide as a powerful and financially prudent public health practice.

Research

INFTA is actively engaged in an ongoing dialogue with research institutes and organizations nationally and internationally.

The International Handbook of Forest Therapy

Become a Forest Therapy Guide ... and save up to $1,000!

Become a Forest Therapy Guide
... and save up to $1,000!