Physiological and psychological effects of forest healing focused on plant fragrance therapy for maladjusted soldiers

Abstract

Background and objective: This study verified the physiological and psychological effects of plant fragrance therapy to analyze whether the therapy has a forest healing effect on maladjusted soldiers. Methods: This study was conducted from March 14 to May 31, 2020 according to the Green Camp curriculum for 2 weeks per recruit class. Thus, plant fragrance therapy was implemented twice each for three recruit classes. Each session of the program was carried out for 4 hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The venue was the garden within the camp and the forest nearby. Forest healing activities using plant fragrances were led by 1 forest education specialist and 1 assistant. The effects of plant fragrance therapy for maladjusted soldiers were analzed analyzed by quantifying physiological and psychological changes through measuring brain waves and stress levels before and after the therapy. Results: As a result of analyzing BRQ and SQ to determine the physiological and psychological healing effect of plant fragrance therapy, both the left and right brain showed higher BRQ and SQ after the therapy with statistical significance. This indicates that plant fragrance therapy on maladjusted soldiers helped positively stabilize their negative psychological and behavioral dispositions, and stabilization of brain waves lowered physical and mental stress and improved self-regulation and immunity. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in ATO. This is the result of analyzing the stress-coping mechanism. Troubleshooting (t = -2.702, df = 61, p = .009), emotional remission (t = -2.173, df = 61, p = .034), pursuit of help (t = -3.286), df = 61, p = .002), and wishful thinking (t = -3.714, df = 61, p < .001) showed statistically significant results. Conclusion: Applying plant fragrance therapy to maladjusted soldiers positively stabilized their negative psychological and behavioral dispositions and helped their self-regulation. Thus, plant fragrance therapy has psychological and physical forest healing effect on maladjusted soldiers.

Effect of Anti-Aging Standard Forest Healing Program With Multiple Visits to a Forest Facility on Cognition in Older Age Patients

“…Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of an ASFHP as a nonpharmacological treatment for cognitive decline and reported positive effects on mood, immune system, stress levels, and physical health. 7 10 11 19 In a meta-analysis, forest-based intervention showed a significant effect on overall mental health. 20 In a previous study, similar ASFHP conducted on MCI patients showed positive effects on psychological, physiological, and physical health.…”

“…9 The FOWI provides forest therapy through a forest healing program and has continuously tried to prove the program’s effectiveness in the management of cognitive and psychological disorders. 10 11 …”

Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study

“…Only recently, a few studies investigated the most important psychophysiological short-term effects of individual exposure to plantemitted MTs. However, such studies were limited to specific and/or numerically scarce target groups, for example, maladjusted soldiers [45], or to specific plant species, such as Cinnamomum burmannii, growing in partially controlled environments [46]. In general, even though the results of these studies are encouraging, quantitative experiments in natural environments are still lacking.…”

Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study

“…Overall, the evidence about MTs activity on human health mostly derives from in vitro or animal or indoor/laboratory experiments, usually with a small number of study participants [43], and very few studies taking into consideration MTs concentration along with the measurement of health outcomes [23,44]. Only recently, a few studies investigated the most important psychophysiological short-term effects of individual exposure to plant-emitted MTs, but such studies were limited to specific and/or numerically scarce target groups, for example, maladjusted soldiers [45], or to specific plant species, for example Cinnamomum burmannii, growing in partially controlled environments [46]. In general, even though the results of these studies are encouraging, quantitative experiments in natural environments are still lacking.…”