Study on the effects of forest therapy on immune function

The text outlines a systematic review examining the effects of forest therapy programs on immune function in adults. Using the PICO-SD framework, studies of adults aged 18 years and older who participated in forest therapy interventions were included. Comparisons were made with urban groups or those who did not participate in forest therapy, including cases without control groups. Immunological outcome measures were also assessed, taking into account different study designs such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and one-group pre-test-post-test designs.

Thirteen studies were evaluated, with forest therapy programs categorized into accommodation and session types. Key outcome measures included the number and activity of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic effector molecules. Most studies showed improvements in these measures after the intervention, indicating the effectiveness of Wald Therapy in improving immune function. The report highlights the need for further RCT studies to further investigate the effects of forest therapy on immune function.