Effects of Cinnamomum Camphora Forest Environment on Elderly Patients with Hypertension: Implications for Adjunctive Therapy

Abstract

: Objectives: Increasing evidence demonstrates the benefits of forest environment on human health. However, the effect of tree-species-specific forest environment on human health was rarely studied. As one of the medical plants, cinnamomum camphora ( C. camphora ) have been found to possess anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, the present study explored the effects of C. camphora forest environment on elderly patients with hypertension (HTN). Study design: Cohort study. Methods: 31 elderly patients with essential HTN were randomly divided into two groups. Blood pressure (BP), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2 %), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and levels of plasma high-sensitive-reactive protein (hs-CRP), as well as profile of mood states (POMS) test, were measured. Categorical variables were compared by Chi-square analysis. T-test was used to compare continuous data. Results: After three-day/ two-night forest bathing, patients in the forest group showed significantly lower levels of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low frequency (LF), the ratio of low frequency and high frequency (LF/HF) and hs-CRP than in control group. However, levels of SpO 2 % and high frequency (HF) were greatly higher than control group. Furthermore, negative mood subscale scores of POMS were significantly lower following forest bathing, while the positive score was much higher. Conclusions: C. Camphora