The therapeutic power of spending time in forests reflects the mood of contemporary society: the idea of a therapeutic retreat has never been more relevant. Nothing could be more on point in our times of mindfulness and back-to-nature movements than a digital detox and freeing yourself from the stress of everyday life to encourage spiritual balance, self-healing, and the curative power of nature. Working together with sylvotherapy (forest therapy) expert Dr. Gisela Immich, Bad Orb is now on its way to becoming the first certified space for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in the German state of Hesse. The concept of doing good for one’s health by spending time in the forest is based on the prescriptions of Sebastian Kneipp. The hydrotherapist and naturopathy pioneer was already prescribing spending time in Wörishofen Forest in the southeast of Germany for therapeutic purposes 150 years ago. Forest therapy encompasses defined therapies for specific indications designed to be performed
within the beneficial climate of the forest to increase general and mental well-being. The concept of “bathing” in the atmosphere of the forest can be traced back to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, which borrows directly from the Zen tradition and Buddhist mindfulness teachings. The modern preventative health trend of forest bathing really took off in the progressive state of California and it is now popular all over the world. In order to be certified as a Kurwald (forest for preventative therapy) or Heilwald (forest for curative therapy), in which such therapies may take place, a forest must have maximum biodiversity and its interior must have a distinct climate. Above all, it must be free from man-made noise and environmental pollution
A forestry report has confirmed the extraordinary suitability of the Orb Forest on the slopes of the Horst for use in spa medicine and forest therapy. It states that the forest features high botanical diversity and a unique population of environmentally valuable and climate-resistant old oak and beech trees. Legend has it that the parquet flooring at the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle is made of oak from the Spessart region. The report also states that the regional fauna is also very much worthy of protection. The woodpecker features on the Spessart region’s coat of arms and many rare species of this bird can be found in the forest, including the great spotted woodpecker, the green woodpecker, and the black woodpecker. The Spessart region also inspired the Brothers Grimm, who came from the nearby Hessian town of Hanau, to write many of their culturally influential fairytales: the bandit stories from the Spessart are the stuff of legend.
Dr. Gisela Immich works at the renowned Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, where she conducts research into forests and health at the Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research (part of the Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology [IBE]). She is a human biologist and spa town specialist as well as an ANFT-certified forest therapy guide (USA) and an INFOM-certified forest health expert (Japan). Dr. Immich is a founding member of the Kompetenzzentrum für Waldmedizin und Naturtherapie (Competence Center for Forest Medicine and Nature Therapy) in the southeastern German town of Bad Wörishofen.
She published the standard German work on forest therapy with Dr. Angela Schuh, Emeritus Professor for Medicinal Climatology.
“I find the spa town of Bad Orb inspiring,” says Dr. Immich. “I am delighted that there are political and private actors who want to transform the important concept of therapy for the future. The methods of approach in Bad Orb are very promising,” she continues. “The appreciation of the forest as an innovative medium for therapy deserves particular recognition. The Orb Forest is a green, health-giving gem that needs to be developed and preserved for use in forest therapy.”
– Dr. Gisela Immich
INTERNATIONAL
FOREST BATHING WEEKS
BAD ORB
MAY 2025
Shinrin-yoku and shinrin-ryoho are Japanese practices based on the healing and health-giving properties of the forest. They employ various methods (mindfulness, mind-body practices, kinesiotherapy, climatotherapy, etc.) to achieve a deeper connection to nature.
Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) describes preventative therapy by “bathing” in the atmosphere of the forest. It aims to provide an experience of nature with all five senses to reduce stress, boost the immune system, and improve general well-being.
Shinrin-ryoho (forest therapy) concentrates on curative and rehabilitative therapies performed in certified forests under the guidance of a qualified therapist. Forest therapy is an innovative, holistic method to ease and treat a variety of complaints.
Dr. Martin Lange is a specialist in internal medicine, diabetologist, balneologist, and medical climatologist.
He will soon practice in our spa town alongside Bad Orb’s renowned spa doctors. He is currently supporting the therapeutic forest certification process!