In a modern metropolis, by Friday evening, an office worker’s cortisol level – the stress hormone – exceeds the normal range by 2.5 to 3 times. To restore balance, many turn to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (which translates to “forest bathing”). This involves a mindful stay in the forest, where a person absorbs the atmosphere of the trees through their senses. Research from Chiba University (Japan) confirms that 20 minutes in the forest lowers the heart rate by 7% and blood pressure by 4%. But why does the effect of “forest bathing” fade a couple of hours after returning to the city?
The practice of “forest bathing” (shinrin-yoku) effectively reduces stress levels, but its effect is often short-lived due to physical exhaustion. Cedar nut oil acts as an essential “internal resource,” supplying the nervous system with fatty acids and antioxidants to support recovery at the cellular level. The combination of nature’s external influence and internal nutraceutical support helps consolidate the results and increase the body’s stress resistance.
Why aren't forests enough?
Shinrin-yoku works through phytoncides – volatile biologically active substances that trees release to protect themselves from fungi and bacteria. When we inhale them, our immune system activates NK cells (natural killer cells) – lymphocytes that recognize and destroy infected or damaged cells in the body.
However, if the nervous system is depleted by a chronic nutrient deficiency, the receptors simply cannot effectively “detect” this signal. We try to reap the benefits of nature, but our “biological receiver” isn’t tuned to the right frequency due to a lack of building blocks for neurons.
For “forest bathing” to yield long-term results, the body must be ready for recovery at the cellular level. Cedar nut oil contains up to 70% linoleic and linolenic acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6). These are the main components of myelin sheaths – the protective insulators of nerve fibers. Without them, nerve impulses “fade,” leading to chronic irritability and rapid fatigue[1]. And the magnesium[2] and zinc in the cedar nut oil are directly involved in the synthesis of serotonin – a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of calm and a stable mood.
Why does this work as a combination?
When you practice “forest bathing,” you send a signal to your brain: “safety.” But for this signal to take hold, your body needs the resources to synthesize neurotransmitters. Cedar nut oil acts as an “internal forest.” It supplies your body with the same terpenes and fatty acids that you inhale in the forest, but it does so systematically, from within.
If you want the effects of your walks to stop being a short-lived “vacation” for your mind and become your baseline state, start small. Include one tablespoon of our cold-pressed cedar nut oil in your daily diet. This is a way to give your nervous system the fuel it needs to recover from city noise!
