INFOM News about 2024 INFOM International Symposium and Workshop on Forest Medicine during October 26-27, 2024

Last Updated:Nov 18, 2024

Academic Program (October 26, 2024)

Chairperson: Prof. Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)

1. Introduction of INFOM (8:30-9:00)
   Michiko Imai, MD, PhD (President of INFOM)
2. Video: introduction of research projects supported by the Vehicle Racing Commemorative Foundation of Japan (9:00-9:20)
   Michiko Imai, MD, PhD (President of INFOM)
3. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human immune system (9:20-9:50)
   Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
4. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human endocrine system (9:50-10:20)
   Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
5. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human autonomic nervous system (10:30-11:00)
   Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
6. 6. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human mental health (11:00-11:30)
   Norimasa, Takayama, Ph.D. (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute)
7. The current situation of forest therapy bases and forest therapists in Japan (11:30-12:00)
   Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)

Some participants also had the following oral presentations.

Oral presentations (12:40-15:30)
(October 26, 2024)

Keynote presentation (15 min)
Introduction of forest bathing/shinrin-yoku/forest therapy activities in Thailand
Dararat Simpattanawong, PhD
Director of Kasetsart University International Integrated Tourism Management Program (KITMAN)
Director of forest bathing centre, Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University, Thailand

Oral presentations
Each oral presentation is 8 minutes including Q & A

1. The Effects of Horticulture Therapy Activities on Cardiovascular Function
   Sung-Tsun Lin, Tsan-Ru Chang, Der-Ming Yeh, Chun-Yen Chang, Ta-Chen Su
   Chairperson: Dr. Dararat Simpattanawong
2. Effects of forest bathing on cardiovascular function in the Shibi forest trail, Yunlin, Taiwan
   Tsung-Ming Tsao, Sung-Tsun Lin, Ming-Jer Tsai, Ta-Chen Su
   Chairperson: Dr. Sung-Tsun Lin
3. You are not alone« reduction of feelings of loneliness thought relationship with Nature
   Paulina Patro
   Chairperson: Dr. Tsung-Ming Tsao
4. Integrating Nature Therapy in Singapore Healthcare
   Joyce Ng Su Ching
   Chairperson: Paulina Patro
5. Shinrin – Yoku and the use of earth acupuncture points to enhance the participant experience
   Ana Cecilia Nieves
   Chairperson: Joyce Ng Su Ching
6. Relational Forest Therapy Pioneered by ANFT. Earth
   Jackie Kuang
   Chairperson: Dr. Ana Cecilia Nieves
7. The role of urban-based forest therapy & nature connection in stress reduction and improved mental well-being for the expat population in Tokyo, Japan
   Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner
   Chairperson: Dr. Jackie Kuang
8. Growing Eco-psychological Flexibility: Integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Forest Medicine
   Richard Thorpe
   Chairperson: Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner
9. Effects of forest environment on health promotion in Experimental Forest National Taiwan University—The establishment of forest medicine—
   Ming-Jer Tsai, Ta-Chen Su, Tsung-Ming Tsao
   Chairperson: Richard Thorpe
10. Feasibility Study for Forest Bathing Delivery Methods to Reduce Anxiety
    Kirsten Welge
    Chairperson: Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai
11. Forest therapy in Poland- current situation
    Katarzyna Simonienko
    Chairperson: Kirsten Welge
12. Establishing the Certification of Forest Therapy Base in Taiwan for Promoting the Mutual Benefit Between People and Forests
    Jui Ling Shen, Chih-Yuan Hung, Shih Hua Fang
    Chairperson: Katarzyna Simonienko
13. Application and usefulness of horticultural activities for improving cardiovascular function in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
    Ta-Chen Su, Sung-Tsun Lin
    Chairperson: Prof. Shih Hua Fang
14. Go slow, stay longer - Integrating Forest Therapy in Inbound Tourism in Japan, Case of the Kumano Kodo
    Alena Eckelmann
    Chairperson: Prof. Ta-Chen Su

Commentator: Alena Eckelmann
Alena Eckelmann missed the opportunity to chair, but instead she gave us 5 minutes of comments on the general presentations as a commentator.

On the second day, the participants received an intensive shinrin-yoku practice at a forest therapy base, Takeda no Mori in Yamanashi prefecture (https://fo-society.jp/facility/yamanashi-takeda/, https://y-zouen.jp/takeda/) and were trained by Forest Medicine specialists and certified Forest Therapists.
Before and after shinrin-yoku practice, blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and SPO2 were the measured and a questionnaire was taken.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Imai and Dr. Li presented the certificates to the participants.

Medical doctor participants received a Certificate of Medical Specialist in Forest Medicine and Non-MD participants received a Certificate of international Shinrin-Yoku instructor.

After the seminar and workshop, a forest bathing tour was conducted to enjoy the forest therapy bases in Japan.
On behalf of INFOM, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the participants.

Prof. Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)

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