◈ Forest Bathing
Trees in a thick green forest give off a scent called phytoncides. Smelling this scent or even coming into contact with it both clears and stabilizes the mind, which is very good for your health. Bathing in areas such as forests is relaxing. The atmosphere apparently decreases a hormone related to stress and the bathing eases depression, anger, tiredness, etc, and, on the other hand, also renews vitality.
The effect of forest bathing having been widely favored is exerted by Phytoncide. When you enter a forest, you feel fresh air of forest owing to this Phytoncide. It is said that Phytoncide is a volatile substance which kills microorganisms such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, diphtheria, etc. in the surrounding environment. From the past, the forest was regarded as the best sanatorium. The unique treatment of tuberculosis which had killed many people until the beginning of the 20th Century was to recuperate within the forest.

◈ Phytoncide
What is Phytoncide?
Phytoncide means the natural antibiotic substance that trees and plants radiate into the air to protect themselves from the harmful insects or micro-organism. It is a compound Greek word for ＇plant ＇(Phyton) and ＇kill＇ (cide) that it is a name for entire sterilization substance from the plants. The major ingredient of Phytoncide is very volatile terpene with a number of other ingredients contained. Most widely known method to assess Phytoncide is to visit dense forest and take the forest bath. The forest bath effect is outstanding in the conifer tree forest including pine trees and big cone pine trees, and in particular, phytoncide of chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki) is outstanding.
Why does Phytoncide deserve attention?
The destruction of forest means the loss of Phytoncide. Phytoncide controls or kills various germs and viruses in the air, purifies the air and enhances the self-cleaning capability. Phytoncide has been keeping the health of mankind in invisible places. As the respiratory diseases and mutant virus have become worldwide issue, and various syndromes caused by the chemical substances become more serious problems in reality, the interests on Phytoncide will be magnified even more.
What are the efficacies of Phytoncide?
Phytoncide acts critically to the harmful insect, bacteria and numerous other germs that threaten the plants, but it brings a lot of goods to the human body. Because of such reason, Phytoncide is a astonishing substance in the forest and is a mysterious gift that the nature has given to human. Phytoncide clears the damaged body and spirit from the harmful substance and stress to bring the human body to the initial healthy condition by heightening the immunity and natural healing process. Phytoncide filters various germs and harmful substances contacted to the respiratory system and the skin with its clear energy of the forest. Currently, there is a little that is known from the secret of Phytoncide, but its efficacy and application field would be extended a great deal as the scientific researches progress.



Translated by Int＇l Cooperation Division
☎ +82-42-481-4081 (Ms. Kang Hye-young)