AMB Volume 42, Issue 3, 2026 Pages 410-427 https://doi.org/10.59393/amb26420303
Forest Bathing and Well-Being: Unveiling the Health Benefits of Microbe Exposure
Lanes A.K.C., Almarza P.J., Enicame J.D.D., Ojera A.S., Caipang C.M.A.
Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is recognized as a nature-based intervention promoting physical and mental well-being, yet the health benefits of airborne microbes remain underexplored. This review synthesizes a conceptual analysis that explores the role of forest-derived bioaerosols and human health. Forest air contains diverse bacterial and fungal communities that may be transferred to the skin and respiratory tract, which can lead to possible outcomes including influences on the human microbiome, enhancing immune regulation, supporting trained immunity, and modulating inflammatory and allergic responses. These microbial ecosystem services highlight forests as potential dynamic reservoirs of health-promoting bioaerosols. However, risks from allergenic spores and opportunistic pathogens emphasize the need for safety measures and environmental monitoring. The review further identifies key knowledge gaps, including the lack of standardized bioaerosol sampling methods, limited controlled exposure studies, and insufficient integration of aerobiology with clinical and urban health research. An interdisciplinary approach linking ecology, medicine, and urban design could reposition forest bathing as a holistic public health strategy, enabling the development of evidence-based forest bathing protocols, microbial-informed urban greenspaces, and preventive health interventions that maximize benefits while minimizing risks in an increasingly urbanized world.
Keywords: aerobiome, bioaerosol, nature-based interventions, therapy, microbiology
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