The benefits of green immersion

For two years (2021 and 2022), at 39 different sites (mountain, hill, and urban parks), scientists organized forest bathing sessions (more than 500 participants).

During these campaigns, they collected environmental and psychometric data, with the goal of identifying and isolating the specific effect of exposure to specific organic compounds produced by plants called monoterpenes. These volatile substances, released from plants into the atmosphere, are found in many essential oils, such as those of pine, lemon, and lavender, and contribute to their characteristic aroma.

Research has shown that above a given threshold concentration of monoterpenes (particularly the one called α-pinene), anxiety symptoms decrease regardless of all other parameters, both environmental and individual.

The specific mechanisms by which monoterpenes affect mood are not yet entirely clear, but it is speculated that they may act at both the respiratory and central nervous system levels. Once inhaled, these compounds are indeed absorbed through the lungs and enter the bloodstream, reaching various organs, including the brain. At the brain level, it is believed that monoterpenes may interact with neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, involved in mood regulation.

For the future, scientists aim to map the locations where the concentration of monoterpenes is highest. In this way, it will be possible to assign a specific therapeutic value to each green site.