Quercus pubescens L. (2021-04-26) by Flavio TarquiniMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
What is “forest therapy”?
Forest therapy represents a preventive medicine tool. It’s a discipline that analyses the therapeutic relationship between humankind and woods and the beneficial effects, using a scientific method.
Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch (2021-04-23) by Flavio TarquiniMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Beneficial effects
In 2020, the UN approved spending time in forest environments, as a practice of preventive medicine. It also encouraged forest therapy treatments, that improve an individual’s mental or physical health.
Landscape (2021-04-23) by UnkonwnMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Our commitment as Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Rome is committed to make its green areas available, in order to improve innovative systems of mental or physical health promotion. This strategy aims to prove the beneficial effects of forest therapy.
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Terpenes
Plants, particularly trees, continuously produce terpenes as well as other natural products that are biologically active in the brain, body and mood. The Botanical garden, nature paradise in Rome, could be an experimental area for beneficial effects of forest therapy due to the presence of Mediterranean forest full of evergreen oak (Quercus ilex L.).
Landscape (2021-04-23) by UnkonwnMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
A sum of positive effects
Health benefits depend on subjects, season, time of the day, and environmental conditions. Furthermore they could be influenced by the botanical species and its volatile organic compounds.
Japanese little bridge (2021-04-23) by UnkonwnMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Public health contribution
Forest therapy may contribute positively in preventive medicine and complementary therapy, to public health and wellbeing in general. This might lead to a reduction of the state’s health expenses.
Ferns' Valley detail (2021-04-23) by UnkonwnMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Mountain Areas: New Potential
Designing forest therapy areas could revitalize mountain regions. These spaces offer a chance to boost nature tourism and create new jobs. It's a win-win for both health and local economies.
Ginko and Cephalotaxus (2021-04-26) by Flavio TarquiniMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Experiments with natures psychological & physical effects
The Botanical garden is committed to improve medical understanding about individual's mental or physical health. It aims to further explore different effects based on different natural products and their concentration.
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Due to the diversity of the flora, the Rome botanical garden is the perfect site to investigate how specific forestal areas can influence health, and thus create forestal therapy paths all over the world.
Acer palmatum Thumb. (2021-03-15) by Giulia TortaMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
Future developments
Scientific studies need to deepen knowledge about forestal therapy: we still don’t know exactly how trees and plants influence an individual's mental or physical health.
The Botanical Garden of Rome is ready to trace new paths.
Undici Zampilli Stairway (2021-04) by Giulia TortaMuseo Orto Botanico di Roma
The Botanical Garden of Rome
It was established in 1883. It is managed by the Department of environmental biology of Sapienza University. Historical garden, living museum, open-air laboratory, nature paradise in Rome: this place can amaze you in every season.
Claudio Scintu, gardener at the Botanical Garden of Rome
Giulia Torta, post graduate trainee at the Botanical Garden of Rome
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