Nature therapy, also called ecotherapy, grounding, or earthing, is a method that uses time in nature to help improve mental or physical health. Different forms of nature therapy include forest therapy, forest bathing, shinrin-yoku, and Sami Lok. Being in nature can help the body relax and reduce stress. It also helps the heart work better and lowers the chance of having high blood pressure.

Recent studies show that spending time in nature supports mental health by helping people pay better attention, stay emotionally balanced, and feel more stable in their moods. These effects happen because being in nature helps the body naturally recover from stress, which lowers the stress hormone cortisol and slows the heartbeat.

History

In the 1950s, scientists studied why people enjoy spending time in nature. The term "Shinrin-yoku," which means "forest bathing," became more popular in American culture more recently. This term was first introduced in Japan in 1982 by Tomohide Akiyama, who was the head of Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. He promoted the idea to encourage more people to visit forests.

This program aimed to help Japan's growing urban population relax and reduce stress during a time of fast industrial growth. Later, countries such as Finland and South Korea created national programs that highlighted the health benefits of spending time in nature, including prevention and treatment of health issues.

Today, nature therapy continues to grow as a field that connects knowledge from public health, environmental science, and psychology.

Health effects

Nature therapy is linked to reducing stress and improving a person's mood. Even small contact with nature, such as having a tree near a home in a city, is connected to better mental health and wellbeing. This may be because of the beauty of nature, the encouragement of physical activity, or the feeling of being connected to the natural world.

New research shows that children who take part in nature-based programs are learning to manage stress better and developing strong coping skills. Studies also find that natural sounds, like flowing water or birdsong, are connected to lower blood pressure, slower heart rates, and improved mood.

Forest therapy has been linked to health benefits, as shown by brain scans and psychological tests that measure mood. Spending time in nature is connected to lower stress and fewer symptoms of depression. Forest therapy may help people of all ages manage stress.

A review of many studies found that activities like forest bathing, outdoor learning, and other nature-based practices are linked to lower stress and better emotional satisfaction across different groups of people.

Social horticulture, which involves working with plants, may help people with depression, PTSD, loneliness, addiction, blindness, or other special needs. Nature therapy can also improve self-management, self-esteem, social skills, awareness of social issues, and job readiness. It may reduce aggression and improve relationships.

Natural sounds alone can help people relax and feel more positive while reducing negative emotions like depression and anger. Seeing nature can lower stress and help improve blood pressure.

Evidence suggests that regular participation in nature-based activities can lead to longer-lasting mental health benefits than short-term exposure.

Nature therapy may help with recovery from illness, pain relief, ADHD, dementia, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency. Being in natural environments can improve social connections, a sense of belonging, and environmental involvement. It also supports intellectual growth, emotional bonds, creativity, and imagination. Overall, time in nature can improve memory, flexibility in thinking, and focus.

Studies show that early experiences with nature are important for children’s development and wellbeing. These experiences can also help children care more about the environment. The mental health benefits of nature may depend on how different cultures view the relationship between humans and nature, so effects can vary among communities.

Spending time outdoors can help people feel more connected to their community, especially when activities take place in public spaces or group programs.

Nature therapy is often easy to access and low-cost, as it can be done in nearby parks, community gardens, or other public outdoor areas without special tools.

Nature-based programs can improve teamwork and social skills, as outdoor activities often require communication, cooperation, and trust.

Social and therapeutic horticulture programs have been found to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, showing that regular, guided time with plants can support emotional health.

Criticism

Recent studies show that results can differ based on how research is conducted and the people studied, which makes it hard to know for sure how nature-based therapies affect health over time.

A 2012 review of many studies found unclear results because of differences in how the studies were carried out. Time spent in forests was linked to better health, but the evidence was not strong enough to create medical guidelines or prove that being in nature directly causes health improvements.

Other researchers have pointed out that the popularity of nature-based therapies sometimes leads to claims that focus more on how people feel about nature than on scientific proof.

Some experts also say that using nature as a way to heal is very personal and can be hard to predict. At the same time, human activity in natural areas can harm the environment.

Although more people are interested in using nature for mental health care, scientists say more carefully planned studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Some reviews also note that many studies depend on people describing their own feelings rather than using clear, measurable data, which can make the findings less trustworthy.

Researchers have also found that some studies on nature-based therapies include very few people, which limits how well the results can be used for larger groups.

Governmental support and professionalization

In Finland, experts suggest spending about five hours each month in nature as a way to stay healthy. Studies show that spending time outdoors regularly may help reduce the risk of depression and other stress-related problems. In South Korea, the focus is on organized outdoor activities designed to help firefighters who have post-traumatic stress disorder. Canada uses a system where doctors can write a "prescription" for nature, encouraging patients to spend more time outside for better physical and mental health. Since 2019, doctors in the United Kingdom have referred patients to a program called Dose of Nature. This program, supported by the National Health Service, local governments, and foundations, reported that 64% of its first 1,500 patients showed improvement, compared to 50% for traditional talk therapy.

Many national health organizations are now funding research to explore how organized outdoor activities can improve public health, especially for stress-related conditions. Some governments have worked with environmental groups to create official training for people who lead nature-based therapy programs, aiming to ensure consistent skills and safer practices. Governments have also expanded training for teachers and youth workers to include nature-based activities in schools and communities, showing increased recognition of their benefits for development.