Nuzair Ahmed Jamro

Scientific evidence increasingly suggests that time spent among trees can significantly enhance immunity, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

In today’s fast-paced and highly urbanized world, where stress and lifestyle-related health issues are rapidly increasing, scientists are once again turning toward nature to find answers. Interestingly, one of the most promising discoveries in this regard comes from an unexpected source forests.

To begin with, Japanese researcher Professor Qing Li has dedicated nearly two decades of his scientific career to exploring how natural forest environments affect human health. According to his findings, simply walking among trees can boost the human immune system by up to 50 percent, without any medication, clinical therapy, or medical intervention.

Read: In conversation with Dr. Qing Li

Moreover, his research also suggests that regular exposure to forest environments may help reduce the risk of serious illnesses, including certain types of cancer. However, for many years, this valuable scientific work remained largely confined to Japanese academic publications, primarily due to limited translation and international dissemination.

In addition, Professor Li, who serves at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo and leads the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, explains that trees naturally release chemical compounds into the air. When humans breathe in these compounds, they not only experience reduced stress levels but also show a measurable improvement in immune system activity.

As a result of these findings, both Japan and South Korea have officially recognized “forest therapy” as a complementary approach to health and wellness, while the Japanese government has been supporting this research since 2004.

The origins of this concept can be traced to the early 1980s. At that time, Japan was undergoing rapid urban expansion, and people were increasingly detached from natural environments. Consequently, stress levels in urban populations began to rise significantly.

It was in this context that health experts proposed encouraging people to spend more time in forests in order to restore mental balance and emotional well-being.

In 2005, Professor Li conducted one of the earliest controlled experiments in this field. Twelve healthy male participants were taken on a three-day forest retreat, where they engaged in light walking and spent extended time in natural surroundings.

Blood and urine samples were collected before, during, and after the trip. The results showed a nearly 50 percent increase in natural killer (NK) cell activity, along with improved anti-cancer protein levels.

The same experiment repeated on female participants produced similar results, while urban walking showed no comparable benefits.

Researchers attribute these effects to phytoncides natural chemicals released by trees that support immune activation and stress reduction.

In conclusion, forest therapy is emerging as a powerful reminder that nature is not separate from human health, but deeply connected to it.

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Nuzair Ahmed Jamro, hailing from Shikarpur, Sindh, is a civil servant and MS research fellow in Public Administration. He writes on governance, public policy, and digital transformation. Email: najamro@gmail.com.

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