The benefits of stress relieving treatment in a Healing Forest Program: A pilot project at Ranca Upas, Ciwidey, West Java

Abstract

Abstract Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new normal has prioritized health and well-being among others through nature-based healing as offered by Perum Perhutani, a state-owned enterprise that manages forests in Java and Madura. Healing Forest or forest therapy is an activity to relieve stress, both physically and mentally, combining nature-based healing media and stress relieving activities. Due to the importance, one of the destinations managed by Perum Perhutani, namely Ranca Upas, was chosen as the pilot project of the Healing Forest Program. This study was aimed at determining healing treatments for relieving stress by utilizing the nature-based healing media through natural forest characteristic indicators. Data collection techniques were carried out through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with a psychiatrist as determinants of treatments and also through modeling and direct simulations to acquire the results. The program focused on two main indicators: forest characteristics and stress relieving treatments for 10 participants. The simulation results show significant improvements in participants’ oxygen level absorption, blood pressure, and heart rate from pre-test until post-test. There were three base treatments used in the simulation. Those treatments decreased the blood pressure for the average 6.1% (there were 3 participants out of 10 experiencing a change from high-normal to normal blood pressure), decreased the heart rate per minute for the average 13.2% (with the result of post-test were good and very good heart rated) and increased the oxygen level for the average 3.1% (there were 4 participants out of 10 experiencing a change from mild hypoxemia to normal oxygen level). These findings provide healing treatments for relieving stress and anxiety by utilizing the nature-based healing media through natural forest characteristic indicators.