Forest Bathing Always Makes Sense: Blood Pressure-Lowering and Immune System-Balancing Effects in Late Spring and Winter in Central Europe

Agnes Peterfalvi, Matyas Meggyes, Lilla Makszin, Nelli Farkas, Eva Miko, Attila Miseta and Laszlo Szereday
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Agnes Peterfalvi: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Ifjusag utja 13, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Matyas Meggyes: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti ut 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Lilla Makszin: Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti ut 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Nelli Farkas: Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti ut 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Eva Miko: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti ut 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Attila Miseta: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Ifjusag utja 13, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Laszlo Szereday: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti ut 12, 7624 Pécs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Various formats of forest bathing have been receiving increasing attention owing to their perspectives in health promotion and the treatment of chronic lifestyle diseases. The majority of field studies are still being conducted in the Far Eastern region, and they often make psychological assessments mainly in the green season. In our pretest–posttest field experiment, twelve healthy, working-age volunteers participated in a 2-h leisurely forest walking program, first in the green season (May) and then in the winter season (January), in the Mecsek Hills, next to Pécs, Hungary. Systolic blood pressure decreased after the trips both in late spring and in the winter. Based on changes in the expressions of CD69, an early activation marker, NKG2D, a major recognition receptor, perforin, granzyme B, and TIM-3, an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, on CD8+ cytotoxic T, NK, NK dim , NK bright , and NKT cells, we detected the stimulation of NK bright cells and activation of all examined immune cell subsets in the green season. In the winter, a slight activating and an interesting balancing effect regarding TIM-3 could be observed considering our finding that basal (pretest) TIM-3 expression by NK cells was significantly lower in the winter. Our work expands the knowledge on and potentials of forest medicine.

Keywords: forest bathing; forest walking; season; spring; winter; blood pressure; NK cells; CD69; TIM-3; immune system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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