Research on forest bathing consistently finds short-term reductions in stress, anxiety and heart rate. The evidence is promising but modest: most studies are small, short and conducted in Asia, and reviewers describe forest bathing as a complementary practice, not a treatment.
The 2026 review
A systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2026 pooled pre- and post-session data. It found lower heart rate and reduced tension-anxiety and depression-despondency scores after forest bathing. The authors concluded it should be treated as a complementary health-promotion practice, not a standalone therapy for cardiovascular or mental disorders. Source.
Mental health review
Kotera, Richardson and Sheffield's review in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction concluded that shinrin-yoku can reduce mental health symptoms in the short term, particularly anxiety, and called for longer follow-up. Source.
Review of reviews
An umbrella review covering 11 reviews and 131 primary studies found beneficial effects on cardiovascular, immune and mental health outcomes, strongest for stress, depression and anxiety. The authors called evidence for hypertension and mental disorders suggestive rather than conclusive, and noted most studies were from Asia. Source.
The honest limits
- Most studies are small and short-term.
- Many are from Asian forests; results may differ elsewhere.
- Methodological quality is often weak, with risk of bias.
- It is not a cure and does not replace medical or mental health care.
What this means for you
If you want a low-risk, low-cost way to unwind, the evidence supports giving it a go. If you have a medical or mental health condition, treat it as an addition to your care, not a replacement. In crisis, call or text 988.