Written by: Gorana Isailović

We are all aware of the modern lifestyle, its pace, irregular eating habits, lack of sleep, excessive daily activities, followed by lack of concentration, stress, and other negative aspects. Is there an alternative to all this, and how can we counteract the harmful effects of an unhealthy life? The answer lies in so-called “Forest Medicine” and returning to nature. Here’s how!

Did you know that just two hours spent in nature, not daily but weekly, has an exceptionally positive impact on the body? Simply put, nature’s vibrations affect psychology, mood, concentration, and other basic parameters of a healthy life. However, most of us aren’t even aware that we use our free time in completely wrong ways. We all think it’s enough to sleep or rest, naturally while watching TV or making the inevitable “visit” to social media networks that we can hardly do without. Wrong! Modern technology alienates people from each other and from nature and natural processes.

In Contact with Nature

More than 40 years ago, the Japanese Forest Agency conducted a study and based on the results determined the effect of forest air on human health. For the credibility of the conclusion, the tests were conducted at 24 locations or different forest areas.

All that needs to be said is that this acquired knowledge served to establish a special “therapy,” or standard forest therapy technique in the preventive programs of this Far Eastern country.

According to the obtained results, forest medicine has become a permanent branch of classical medicine, involving people’s stay in these natural habitats. It is, by the way, an interdisciplinary science that includes elements of alternative medicine, environment-based medicine, and preventive medicine.

Believe it or not, since 1981, so-called “forest air bathing” has become a global trend, which is finally reaching our region.

The term forest medicine was introduced in Japan in 2006, the following year in the United Kingdom, and since 2009, the Harvard University Medical School has been holding a summer school on forest medicine.

Prof. Dr. Gorana Isailović

Discover Serbia’s partner organization, the Medical SPA Association of Serbia, developed a forest medicine program in 2014, within the Forest Therapy Serbia section, and since 2019 through the South Eastern Europe Forest Medical Alliance.

All association members are responsible for developing program activities, research, and education in this field. In this way, forest medicine is expanding day by day. And most importantly – it cannot harm, has no adverse effects, or anything that could harm the human body. And how could it, when through forest medicine, humans return to their roots, the original way of life, and the (necessary) connection with nature.

Let’s remember, the modern way of life is NOT in harmony with human nature, which leads to various problems, primarily health-related.

The first forest therapy walk in Southeast Europe was held on May 25, 2016 in the Obedska Bara area, and the Šumadija Forest Hammam was presented in 2014 in Japan, at the forest medicine section of the World Spa Congress. With this act, our country officially appeared on the world map of forest medicine.

Just two hours weekly in nature contributes to health

There is much evidence about the effects of forest air bathing on human health. Here are just some of them:

• Forest air bathing reduces prefrontal brain activity, lowers blood pressure, and contributes to the relaxation effect
• There is an increase in killer cell activity and expression of anticancer proteins including perforin, granzymes A/B, and granulysin. These effects can remain active for up to 30 days after staying in the forest.
• Forest air bathing increases the activity of substances and anticancer cells in the human body and increases the amount of anticancer proteins
• Phytoncides released by forest trees reduce the production of stress substances in the human body, which also increases the activity of cells that have an immunological surveillance role and prevent the occurrence and spread of malignant diseases

Forest air bathing in Japan is called “Shinrin Yoku”. A significant part of the professional-scientific program at the World Spa Congress in May 2014 in Kyoto (Japan) was dedicated to this therapeutic method, where the Medical Spa Association team, our partner organization on this project, participated.

The project’s idea is to promote, direct, and strengthen awareness about the importance of environmental protection through this highly innovative method. The project’s result, besides raising environmental awareness, will be creating a new product in the territory of Belgrade. Project participants will gain new knowledge thanks to eminent experts, which they can pass on to their environment.

The project concept is designed through seven stages, each of which will be diligently worked on by a top team of experts.

• The first stage includes identifying all factors for smooth project implementation and activity preparation. In this stage, we will hold meetings with collaborators – project lecturers. The project team – project coordinator, marketing manager, and financial manager with three more volunteers will thoroughly prepare meetings and conduct a roundtable with collaborators to better prepare activities.
• The second stage involves preparing working materials. Each participant will receive all necessary props for the forest walk. Together with the lecturers, we will design and create the required materials as a team.
• The third stage includes promotional activities to involve more people. Besides media appearances, we will promote the project through intensive activities on social networks and partner platforms. Also, the idea is to network higher education institutions with social and ecological orientations.
• The fourth stage is actually the main event, which is organizing five mini-events (forest walks) in different parts of Belgrade. We will conduct walks in five different terms with 14 days intervals. At each event, we will have up to 300 participants. Our goal is to have as many people as possible who are already active in environmental protection at these events, who will spread a positive image about the importance of ecology and forest medicine through their influence. Our eminent experts – professors, doctors, ecologists will creatively introduce people to forest wellness, the importance of environmental protection, physical activity, and similar topics.
• The fifth stage is the professional selection of an adequate location in Belgrade, which the greatest experts in forest medicine will declare a location of exceptional interest. This location will then receive the necessary certification.
• The sixth stage is also an extremely important promotion of realized events. In this stage, we will use all video and photo materials from the previous five forest walks, as well as media house reports. In this stage, we will aim to reach as many people as possible who live in Belgrade and its surroundings.
• The seventh stage is promoting the location of exceptional interest, creating visuals for this location, and presenting it to European forest wellness associations. With this stage, we will position Belgrade as a capital that has an exceptionally attractive trail for forest wellness. This is, of course, of exceptional importance in the field of further development, and in perspective, a new eco-tourism content that Belgrade can offer.