Abstract

The therapeutic methods using natural environment which human had employed from ancient times have gradually neglected with the development of science. The empirical remedies from natural environment in psychiatric medicine have been also regarded as unscientific since neuroleptic drugs came into use to treat the psychiatric diseases in 1950's. However, the utilization and researches of the therapies using natural environment have been growing as the association between the stresses by modern urban living and variable diseases or health problems was presented in the late 20^th century. Forest therapy and hydrotherapy are widely used and easily accessible environmental therapies. Walking in forest or watching forest had not only psychological relaxation effects but also physiological relaxation effects such as the stabilization of central nervous system. Besides forest therapy contributed to the improvement and remission of the general depressive symptoms in the patients with depression and the growth of openness and self-awareness in the patients with alcohol dependence. Hydrotherapy also was effective for the alleviation of anxiety and stress and the improvement of quality of life in healthy people or the patients with physical illnesses. However, the usefulness of forest therapy and hydrotherapy in major psychiatric diseases wasn't yet conclusive. In future, environmental therapy including forest therapy and hydrotherapy needs to build up the scientific evidences through the researches, especially in psychiatric field, on psychological and physiological effectiveness, therapeutic mechanism, and the effects of the respective components in each environmental therapy. (Korean J Str Res 2010;18:167∼179)

• Keywords: Environment, Forest therapy, Hydrotherapy;