Low blood pressure and other joys of the forest

If you want to go to the forest now, you will surely be surprised. This is what Aune Haarla, born in Iitti, rhymed while writing the lyrics for the Kipparikvartetti’s recording of the Teddy Bears’ outing. It is a well-researched fact that nature outings have amazing health benefits.

It is now known that the natural landscape in a painting calms and improves concentration. It is also clear that hospital windows should ideally have a view of the forest. Looking at it can reduce physical symptoms and speed up recovery.

Even greater health benefits come from a person going out into nature themselves. Just a five-minute dash in the forest can lift your mood. During a quarter of an hour, vitality increases and blood pressure may drop. Stress and heart rate decrease.

And if you also get excited about moving in the forest, the health benefits only increase. In nature, a person moves more briskly than indoors and does not get stuck sitting down, as there are no inviting sofas to lounge on in the forest.

Our treatment facility’s forest

The Forest Research Institute’s research program, Wellbeing from the Forest, investigated the wellbeing effects of forests. It produced researched information showing that visiting the forest calms, boosts mood, and is good self-care for those with hypertension.

Simply being in the forest is enough to produce wellbeing effects. You don’t need to do anything but walk into the forest and just be. There’s no need to exert yourself unless you want to.

Wellbeing does not require an ancient forest and majestic landscapes. The nearest forest you encounter is sufficient for improving health; just a few trees might be enough as a treatment facility.

However, if you want to visit a top-notch treatment facility, Repovesi National Park in Kouvola represents such a place. It’s worth enjoying its healing treatments for a day or two. For those traveling from Helsinki to Kouvola, definitely keep Arboretum Mustila in mind, as this significant tree species park in Northern Europe is located just a short drive from the capital region.

Monthly dose of five hours

And that’s not all. Being in the forest lowers brain load and stress levels compared to being in the city. Moving in nature also promotes social wellbeing. A visitor to nature tends to view others more positively.

Spending an hour walking in the forest improves attention. And if you can manage to wander for two hours, you will also enhance your body’s defenses.

The Forest Research Institute recommends spending five hours per month in local nature. This is expected to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing.

But what do these health benefits stem from? It is speculated that the reason lies at least in the sounds and scents of the forest. In Japan, the essential oils emitted by forests have been studied and are believed to have positive effects. There’s likely no harm in seeing landscapes, touching plants, and tasting forest berries.