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Start feeling more grounded—in just a few minutes a day.
Download the free 7-Day Nature Reconnection Guide and begin gently regulating your nervous system through simple, research-informed practices—no forest required.
We respect your space.
No spam. No noise. Just occasional, grounding emails with reflections, practices, and seasonal insights. Unsubscribe anytime—no hard feelings.
Tree Hugging Benefits: A Gentle Path to Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Mae Whitburn
- May 26, 2025
When was the last time you truly wrapped your arms around a tree—not just stood beside one or admired it from afar, but held it close and breathed with it? While it might sound quaint or whimsical, the tree hugging benefits extend far beyond symbolism or sentiment. Emerging research, ancient wisdom, and modern therapeutic practices are aligning to tell us: hugging a tree might be one of the most healing things we can do for our minds and bodies.
The Essence of Tree Hugging
The essence of tree hugging lies in its direct connection with life—a chance to step away from the digital hum of modern life and return to something rooted, still, and ancient. Whether you are a seasoned tree hugger or someone who chuckles at the idea, it's worth knowing that this practice is backed by science and supported by both Indigenous traditions and contemporary therapy.
The Science Behind the Hug
According to clinical psychologist Dr. Qing Li, a leading researcher in Forest Therapy, spending time with trees activates the happy hormone response. When you hug a tree, your body can release positive hormones like oxytocin, the hormone responsible for social bonding and emotional security. This simple act lowers cortisol levels, reduces anxiety levels, and soothes the nervous system activity, offering a profound sense of calm.
In fact, a forest bathing guide would tell you that even physical contact with a tree bark stimulates measurable shifts in the body—such as stabilising blood glucose levels, improving sleep patterns, and supporting physical health. And it's not just metaphorical—Forest Therapy is now being offered by practitioners across the globe, drawing on decades of studies and the lived experience of those in close contact with natural surroundings.
Roots in Ancient Wisdom
The origins of tree hugging trace back to traditions as old as the trees themselves. Indigenous cultures, including those in India who famously defended khejri trees, teach us the significance of trees as kin—providers of energy sources, food, and medicine. In these communities, appreciation for nature isn't just poetic; it’s essential for survival and conscious life.
In his influential book The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben explores how trees communicate, form communities, and nurture their young—a perspective that invites us to shift from a utilitarian view to one of reverence. His work encourages critical inquiry into the destruction of forests and our disconnection from nature, especially in the age of climate change.
The Emotional and Mental Health Connection
The emotional benefits of hugging a tree cannot be overstated. Contact with trees fosters emotional bonding, not only with the beautiful tree itself but with ourselves. For those dealing with mental health conditions or experiencing excess stress, trees offer a silent, non-judgemental presence.
Spending time in dense forest areas has been shown to lower stress levels and enhance cognitive benefits, especially among children, where Children From Nature programs are helping build early connection with nature provides and improves emotional benefits. Even a few minutes with a tree—a moment of deep breaths, hands pressed to the bark—can foster a deep sense of grounding.
Forest Bathing and Its Many Layers
If you’ve never tried forest bathing, think of it as the art of immersing yourself in the forest atmosphere—not hiking, not running, just being. The practice has gained attention worldwide and is being recognised by health systems and researchers alike. It's not only a beneficial activity, but an accessible activity, requiring nothing more than your presence and a willingness to listen.
Engaging in Forest Therapy has numerous health benefits: reducing body mass, improving exercise levels, and supporting mental health through the reduction of negative energies and the enhancement of a positive affect. Through forest bathing, we experience a connection to nature that brings about well-being benefits difficult to replicate in other settings.
Environmental and Social Significance
The practice of tree hugging also holds implications beyond personal wellbeing. It reflects a form of environmental activism, a stand against carbon footprint increase, destruction of forests, and a nod to the role trees play in removing carbon dioxide from the air.
Forest Management Bureau initiatives and groups like the Department of Environment continue to stress the economic benefits and ecological necessity of preserving forests—not just for us, but for future generations.
In a time when buildings are turning people into buildings into people, reclaiming our daily lives through small but potent rituals like tree hugging becomes an act of both self-care and resistance.
Conclusion: Hug a Tree, Heal a Little
So next time you pass a beautiful tree, consider stopping. Press your palm to its tree bark, take a few deep breaths, and if it feels right, wrap your arms around it. You may feel silly. You may also feel something shift.
This isn’t about being an anxious person grasping at straws—it’s about rediscovering something ancient, healing, and profound. In our fast-paced world, the surprising benefits of tree hugging are a gentle reminder that not all therapies come in a bottle or a session.
As you explore your own fascination with trees, let your heart be open to the incredible benefits that these steady giants offer.
About the Author
Mae Whitfern
Mae Whitfern is a writer and mental health educator exploring the meeting place between nervous system science and the natural world. With a background in community health and public education, Mae specialises in making evidence-informed practices feel gentle, grounded, and doable—especially for people navigating stress, burnout, or urban life.
Her work is shaped by lived experience, years in the public sector, and countless walks in local bushland. She believes healing doesn’t require perfect conditions—just a patch of sky, a moment of stillness, and the willingness to begin again.
Mae writes from the edges of Naarm/Melbourne, where she lives with her partner and a scruffy rescue dog
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