Forest therapy, also known as “tree therapy”, is not just about hugging trees. It is a form of alternative medicine based on the principle of “healing” through contact with nature.
What effects does it have on the mind?
The forest allows humans to regain their calm, relax and find a certain serenity. You can turn this trip to the forest into a fun outing by doing tree climbing, for example. As a general rule, this also helps to calm you down by lowering your blood pressure and stress levels. In fact, stress and anxiety are often heightened when we are far from nature or in enclosed spaces. Going for a short hike in the forest allows you to break the anxiety-inducing cycle of commuting, working and sleeping, and to recharge your batteries by clearing your mind, without necessarily thinking about a destination or a specific goal.
Boost your creativity
Focusing on the sounds around us when we go for a walk in the forest, through a park or in nature in general stimulates our senses and therefore our nervous system. This improves our mood, increases our concentration and also stimulates our creativity!
The next time you go into the forest, try to concentrate on the song of certain birds, the sound of water trickling if there is a spring nearby, and the sound of trees creaking, working and moving in the wind.
It is also an opportunity to learn about and discover or rediscover the local flora and fauna, to familiarise yourself with the different varieties of trees, bird species and plants that can be found here. Count them – it’s an interesting exercise and will give you an initial indication of the richness of our environment!
Find out more about the typical flora and fauna of Charente-Maritime.
Chemically rejuvenating
If the forest has benefits for our mind, it is also capable of sending very interesting chemical signals to our body.
It would strengthen our immune system thanks to phytoncides, which are phytotherapeutic molecules secreted by trees that help fight fungi and bacteria that are harmful to them. They would therefore also be effective on humans by settling on their bodies.
It is well known that forests are the lungs of our planet. Walking in nature allows us to ‘take a deep breath of fresh air’ and provides our bodies with better air to breathe, far from the pollution of cities. A walk in the forest is actually an opportunity to boost your mood and improve oxygen flow to your muscles, for example.
Away from screens, everyone to the forest!
A walk in the forest is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your body and nature, and disconnect from your screens. Enjoy this feeling of freedom. On this topic, feel free to check out our article Outdoor vs. Digital.
Ignore the distractions that occupy your mind and do a “mini digital detox”. And I promise, there’s no big bad wolf or witch in a cabin deep in the forest that you might encounter.
A simple action to protect our beneficial forest
However, if nature takes care of us and allows us to recharge our batteries or “heal” ourselves, we must also take care of nature in order to honour it.
Taking a small bag with you to collect any rubbish you find along the way during your hike is a simple gesture that will do the planet a world of good, so remember to do it!
One small recommendation, however, before you set off on your walk in the undergrowth: stick to the paths and avoid venturing into the woods away from the trails. Trampling helps to suffocate and kill vegetation, thereby asphyxiating our undergrowth. So let’s respect and preserve it if we want our forests to continue to thrive.
Find our hiking ideas in the article on hikes to do around Fontdouce.
The forest, a space suited to all your special moments
Nature recharges our batteries and heals our psychological and physical ailments. There is nothing simpler than a short walk to recharge your batteries, whether it is during moments shared with family or friends. The forest is also the ideal setting for a team-building day out.
The forest is open to everyone: there are no age restrictions or specific requirements for exploring it and practising forest therapy, so why not give it a go?
