Forest bathing in the Arnold Arboretum. Studies have shown that forest bathing can provide tangible health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, reduced stress, and a boosted immune system. (Chris Citorik / WBUR)Forest bathing in the Arnold Arboretum. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was first coined in Japan in the 1980's. (Chris Citorik / WBUR)Forest bathing in the Arnold Arboretum. Tam Willey, the therapy guide, encouraged participants to wander and explore at their own pace. (Chris Citorik / WBUR)Forest bathing in the Arnold Arboretum. Recent studies have suggested that just spending time around trees can increase natural killer cell activity. Natural killer cells, or NK cells, can help fight tumors or virus-infected cells.
