A Man and the Research that Inspired me to Become a Forest Therapy Guide: Meet Dr. Qing Li and 3 Things he Taught Me.

Dr. Qing Li happy with his gift of locally grown honey from a group of ANFT guides from Hong Kong.

This man inspired me to become a Forest Therapy guide… and I never met him until now. Here's the story!

A few years ago I knew really nothing about forest bathing or forest therapy. Yet, as I considered ways that I could serve the community through nature and its healing properties, forest therapy came into my consciousness. I had just arrived in Hong Kong and had time to think about my next chapter in my life. In my heart, knew I was no longer for the corporate world. I also felt I was destined to help people find the light within. In a chance talk with a spiritual guide, she asked if I knew about forest bathing. I told her I heard of it... through an insurance email, but I had no clue what it was about. Yet, after doing some research, I was intrigued.

I came across a book, Forest Bathing: How trees can help you find health and happiness, written by Dr. Qing Li, and decided to get it as I continued to explore the practice. Wowzers, his book really opened my eyes to just how much forest therapy backed by science, how the practice has spread globally, and served as an impassioned plea to the reader to reintroduce nature back into their lives. His book, along with Clifford Amos’ Your guide to forest bathing: Experience the healing power of nature, pushed me to say yes to enrolling in the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy’s guide program. 

This year, I caught wind that Dr. Li would be presenting at the International Conference on Sustainable Tourism at CUHK. A bit in awe and starstruck, I was over-the-moon that I’d have an opportunity to meet him in person, to thank him for helping inspire me to become a guide. I was able to do just that! Myself and other guides had the chance to shake hands with him and take him out to a nearby forest for some nature connection and tea! 

Myself (barefeet and all) with Dr. Li and ANFT guides from Hong Kong having tea in nature.

Dr. Li's work continues to serve as pillars for the nature medicine movement. Research around the globe that help support the healing power of nature and the various ways and populations it has a positive effect on can thank Dr. Li for his pioneering efforts. Personally, I've leaned on quite a few of Dr. Li's studies to inform forest bathing guests in Hong Kong about the breadth of nature's medicinal properties. Here are three things I've taken away from Dr. Li that I want to share with you all.

People have always had a need for nature

Termed biophilia by E.O Wilson in 1984, it is a Greek concept meaning “love of life and the living world.” Throughout history we’ve lived with nature, have grown to love what has helped us to survive, and this natural connection is fundamental to our wellbeing. While not Dr. Li’s work, he introduced this hypothesis to me and has served as a foundation for his work, how we see our relationship with nature, and how our health coincides with that of nature’s.

From a feeling to a science: Nature as medicine

Many of us know intuitively that being with nature is healthy. Especially when we're having a rough day, a walk in the fresh air amongst the trees helps us to come back to ourselves. Now, because of the work of Dr. Li and many others, we have science to back up what our intuition has told us all along.

Have your heard of phytoncides? Phytoncides are chemicals released into the air by trees and plants to help tend to help them to recover when they are ill. The neat thing about this is that humans can also breathe in phytoncides. According to Dr. Li’s research, when we are in a forest for a substantial amount of time and breathe in phytoncides, our Natural Killer (NK cells) are activated and result in an increase in our immunity system. The NK Cells help to fend off cancer and other viruses. What's also amazing is the uptick in our immune system lasts for over a month! Literally, medicine we can receive from being amongst a forest.

The importance of seeing through a child’s eyes

Children know exactly how to be with nature, something adults seemed to have forgotten.

As adults, we rarely spend time allowing our inner child to play. We've become so serious that we've forgotten how to just be, how to let things go, or to even feel awe when with nature. In Dr. Li's talk during the conference, he implored us to see through a child’s eyes when with nature. Better yet, to allow a child’s curiosity to take over your thinking mind.  The next time you're with nature, what would it be like to have the eyes and heart of a child?

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous

Getting to meet Dr. Li, to share with him my gratitude for inspiring me to become a forest therapy guide, and to have a moment of connection with him and other forest therapy guides was surreal. It is a gift that I get to bring people to be with nature and to learn of what Dr. Li has continued to perpetuate. Perhaps you're interested in his work, what it's like to be a forest therapy guide, or to participate in a forest therapy walk in Hong Kong. Leave a comment below if you are.

Sharing light and Aloha ~~~

So grateful to share in this moment with Dr. Li and other fellow ANFT guides in Hong Kong.