Harvard Doctor: How To Heal With Forest Bathing & Nature And How To Apply Wellbeing Benefits In Your Home Design - The Scientific Connection Between Nature, Health & Wellbeing
This episode is part two of a two part series on Forest Bathing (translated from Japanese term shinrin-yoku). In part two we explore the science behind the health and well-being benefits of forest bathing, forest therapy and time in nature while providing recommendations on how to incorporate these lessons into your home design. Our special guest is Dr. Susan Abookire, BSEE, MD, MPH, FACP, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a senior executive with 22 years’ experience leading healthcare organizations. She has served as Chief Medical Officer, System Chief Quality Officer, and Department Chair of the Department of Quality and Patient Safety at Mount Auburn, a Harvard hospital, where she founded and led the award-winning quality and patient safety program. Dr. Abookire began her professional career as an electrical engineer in aviation systems design and brings a keen understanding of systems thinking and design to her work improving healthcare for everyone. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Abookire trained at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and practices Internal Medicine. She received a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and teaches nationally and internationally. Certified as a Forest Therapy Guide, Dr. Abookire offers nature-inspired individual coaching, group coaching, leadership development, training and retreats to healthcare professionals. Her programs help professionals and patients by delivery tools for lifelong physical, mental and cognitive wellbeing. Dr. Abookire has also developed a curriculum for Harvard Medical School residents that incorporates Forest Therapy into learning about healthcare systems and leadership. Her rich background and experience in systems design influences all her work, including supporting healthcare organizations looking for cultural transformation. Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction (2:00) What is your background and what let you to becoming a forest therapy guide and spearheading the integration of this form of therapy into the medical system? (6:17) Could you speak to some of the health benefits of forest bathing from a medical perspective? (8:50) Discussion around the nervous system states.(12:45) The restoration benefits of time in nature.(18:38) Can you walk us through one of your forest bathing sessions that you offer? (26:26) Where do you offer your forest therapy sessions? (30:40) How you can use forest bathing to open up and receive guidance. (34:30) Why is it important for women to be mindful of cortisol levels when it comes to hormone fluctuations (monthly perimenopause, menopause, etc)? (38:25) How do you as a doctor and forest therapy guide think someone can use their home to induce similar benefits of forest bathing? (44:00) What do you do in your home that connects you to the forest? (51:56) How do you introduce someone who is new to forest bathing? (58:10) How often do you recommend people spend time in nature to for health and wellbeing benefits? (1:00:04) A discussion on the immune system benefits of time in nature(1:05:39) If you could snap your fingers and imbue everyone with one piece of knowledge or understanding about forest therapy and/or trees, what would it be? Resources: Association of Nature & Forest Therapy (https://anft.earth/) (https://anft.earth/team/dr-susan-abookire/)Dr. Susan Abookire, Harvard Medical School (https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/susan-abookire-bsee-md-mph-facp) Songs by TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™Link: https://ikson.com/tell-your-storyDisclaimer:The Aligned Interior Podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other health care services, including giving medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk
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