It is time to take a dip in the woods. In this April 18, 2019 (4.5 minute read) by The Walrus, “Is a Walk In The Forest Better Than a Trip To The Doctor?” we consider the immersive experience of connecting with nature. A Japanese treatment that is becoming mainstream. Forest bathing melds nature with mindfulness by eliminating mental irritants which constantly tug at our sleeves in the digitally connected world. “It contributes to our overall physical and spiritual health, having a place where we can walk right down to the river and be immersed in a natural setting,” says Shelley Charles, dean of Indigenous education at Humber College. However, walking into the woods instead of the pharmacy has yet to be fully embraced by the medical community, even though the practice can work in tandem with conventional medicine. Urban life brings all sorts of conveniences but from time to time it is worth remembering our roots (pun intended) and communing with nature for a little therapeutic restoration. It is very likely that most of those following NHPPA (“the NHP tribe”) acknowledge and practice this treatment. It is not a trending concept, nor something that requires double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to adopt. We just get it. It is already a way of life.
