Exploring the Benefits of Forest Walking and Mother Earth’s Other Remedies

There are several studies about the positive effects on the brain and body when we are in touch with nature. Today, I will tell you about one of them, showing the benefits of forest walking and other remedies found in nature to incorporate in our lives. 

We are at that point in human history where we spend almost all our time at home, in our big cities, working, studying, and receiving information and news from all over the world. We have many tasks to accomplish in a short period of time and it is not new that all this can lead us to feel more stressed, anxious, and to experience negative psychological symptoms.

Benefits of Forest Walking: Is nature the remedy or can we find remedies in nature? 

Both! This article explores nature’s therapy as an alternative medicine and describes some remedies found in nature that may help you heal and feel better.

“At the beginning of time we all spoke the same language, we all lived in the same world, driven by nature, by its wise times and rhythms.”

—Daniela Esquivel

A wonderful world has been created by humans, one filled with wonders, magic, complete cities, art, high towers that can reach the sky, photos to store our memories, and rollercoasters to make us feel alive. We are concerts, parties, noise… but we are also calm, peace, and wisdom.

The way I see it, we are pieces of two different worlds if we, human beings, could divide ourselves in two. One piece would be “City” and the other one would be “Nature.” I believe we have spent so much time associating ourselves to “City” that we are so close to forgetting our connection with “Nature.”

In 2014, an experiment was conducted in Japan on forty-eight young male adults. The study consisted in evaluating the cardiovascular response and psychological effects of a 15-minute walk in nature against a 15-minute walk in an urban environment. Walks of the same distance, at the same hour. The participants were divided in four groups and taken to different parts of the city. Each participant completed two walks of 15 minutes—a forest walk and an urban walk. In the end, this study demonstrated the benefits of forest walking and the human’s presence in nature.

The results indicated differences in the heart rate. The heart rate value was significantly lower after the forest walking and the participant’s anxiety and stress levels were reduced. Simply put, forestry activities have a positive influence on cardiovascular relaxation and can reduce negative psychological symptoms.

Natural remedies to incorporate in our lives

Planet earth was created by millions of coincidences, which happened through millions of years. At one point, there was a perfect balance for life to exist and the planet became the world we know. Food grows under our feet, the sun sets at night to let us sleep, and plants clear the air we breathe and create powerful remedies for us—the animals of earth.

According to Wikipedia, herbalism is the traditional medical practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Since prehistoric times, people from all over the planet have used thousands of indigenous plants, flowers, and herbs for treatments to maintain human and animal health. 

From drinking tea when we are sick, using plant extracts for skin and hair care, and diffusing essential oils for aromatherapy to applying powerful creams to heal injuries, each day we are in touch with these little remedies mother earth gave to us. Let’s examine three of these remedies, two flowers and one root: Hibiscus flower, Calendula flower, and Marshmallow root.

Hibiscus flower 

This red flower is originally from southeastern Asia. Commonly used to make Hibiscus tea, it is known in some countries as Agua de Jamaica. This flower is a powerful diuretic, high in antioxidants, and good for the health of the heart. Drinking an infusion of hibiscus may reduce oxidative stress, promote weight loss, and reduce the growth of bacteria. 

Furthermore, the tea is easy to prepare. Simply add a bunch of the dried flower to boiling water. Reduce the heat source to the minimum level and leave it there for 10-15 minutes. You will obtain a high concentration that you can serve and dilute in a big jar to taste and store the rest in the fridge for later. 

Calendula flower

This flower is commonly found as an ornamental plant in gardens, but we can also find it in the classic grandmother’s cream recipes, passed on from generation to generation. The Calendula flower is originally from the Mediterranean region. With yellow and orange petals, flowers bloom almost all year.

This is a powerful anti-inflammatory and healing herb and may be used as a treatment for eczema, wounds, chafing, tattoos, burns, and scrapes. There are several creams and ointments available with Calendula on its formulation. But we can always do it in the traditional way. Cook 20 grams of the dried flower with a litre of water. Wait until it cools a bit and you can apply it directly to the wound with a cotton cloth.

Marshmallow root

Native to Europe, the Marshmallow root, or Althaea, has been used from ancient times in different traditions as an alternative medicine and a cuisine ingredient. All parts of this species are edible and it has the particularity of reducing water retention, alleviating gastric ulcers and aiding the metabolism. A cold infusion of this flower can also soothe the throat and cough. 

It is important to clarify that these methods do not replace traditional medicine. The use of Marshmallow root is not recommended for pregnant women and it should not be combined with certain medications. 

In view of all the above, do you still think that we are separate from nature? Whether it is due to the benefits of forest walking or all the variety of medical herbs, I don’t believe this planet was made for us, we exist thanks to this planet.

“Do human beings have within them an innate sense of connection to other forms of life? If so, can this natural feeling, this “biophilia,” both enhance our respect for ourselves as human and reinforce our sense of obligation to treat other forms of life with loving care?”

—T. H. Watkins