Nature’s healing touch
Connecting with natural world can do a power of good for people’s physical and mental well-being. That is why Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) took persons-in-recovery and caregivers to Kadoorie Farm for a forest bathing exercise. Participants touched trees, listened to bird songs, and breathed in the fragrance of the forest to engage their five senses and relax. Hospitalised patients were also able to join in with the help of virtual reality (VR), watching videos of the forest on VR glasses accompanied by sound and aromatherapy for an immersive experience.
Raymond Leung, Ward Manager of the Psychiatric Ward of KCH, who is also a certified forest therapy guide of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, says forest bathing allows patients to put their worries aside and enjoy the peace of nature. An inpatient was inspired to discharge from hospital after taking part in the VR experience with her mother. “She wanted to recover and join her mother for an actual forest bathing,” Raymond recalls. “Her mother was deeply moved by this as her daughter hadn’t expressed any desire to go outside for a long time. We were also very encouraged.” Raymond hopes to organise more forest bathing excursions and encourages colleagues to make the most of nature in their spare time. “You can just visit nearby parks once or twice a week. It can give you spiritual healing.”
