Die Chemie der Ruhe: Warum Waldbaden wirkt

The chemistry of tranquility: Why forest bathing works

How forest bathing has been proven to counteract technostress – and how DAWN makes this effect accessible for everyday life.

Constant stimuli, notifications, screen time: what we feel has a name – technostress .
It throws our nervous system out of balance. The result: inner restlessness, sleep problems, exhaustion.

But there is a natural counterweight – and it begins with a breath. In Japan it's called Shinrin-Yoku : forest bathing.

Forest bathing: More than a feeling

Shinrin-Yoku means: consciously going into the forest, not for hiking, but to perceive. Air, scent, light, silence.

A clinical review (2022) in the Journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine shows:

  • Shinrin-Yoku lowers cortisol – the central stress hormone
  • Heart rate and blood pressure decrease
  • The parasympathetic nervous system is activated – the system switches to rest mode.
  • Mood, sleep, and concentration improve
  • The activity of natural killer cells (NK cells) increases – central to the immune system.

These effects have been demonstrated in various contexts – from day trips to the forest to stays lasting several days.

Phytoncides: The Chemistry of the Forest

What makes the difference is not just the peace and quiet or the greenery – it's the air. More precisely: the molecules within it.

Trees – especially pines, firs and cypresses – release so-called phytoncides : Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve to defend against germs and insects in the plant world – and trigger measurable physiological effects in humans.

A systematic meta-analysis (2024) in the Journal Pharmacological Research – Natural Products examined eight studies with a total of 79 participants:

  • NK cell activity increased significantly – effect size: 2.5
  • T cells, perforin, and other immune markers were also affected.
  • Stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol decreased.
  • The effects also occurred outside of forests – e.g., with phytoncides sprayed into clouds indoors.

The studies met the PRISMA criteria for systematic reviews and were awarded the GRADE system assessed – an international standard for quality assurance in evidence-based research.

DAWN: The power of the forest. To go.

What if these effects could be felt not only in the forest? DAWN was developed to make exactly that possible.

A portable inhalation system that concentrates the sensory experience of forest air – for any place where your nervous system needs a break.

Whether between meetings, after a subway ride, or in moments when everything becomes too much – DAWN is a tool for regulation . Designed with a focus on function, material, and atmosphere.

One breath. Focus returns.
The body remembers rest.
The system can restart.

Discover DAWN now →

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The author

Fabian Hans: With his background in psychology and marketing strategy, he writes to show how our environment influences our thoughts. This blog aims to help people think more clearly and act more consciously.

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