• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.517-525
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• 2010

Horticultural therapy is a complementary therapy by trained professionals utilizing plant and horticultural activities as media to pursue the positive change of clients, which resulting from stimuli of plant nature, activities, and interaction with other people. Outdoor horticultural activities provide clients with the opportunities of the contact to nature such as fresh air and sunlight as well as plants. But the importance of plant nature to client's health has not been fully acknowledged compared to that of therapist's role and activities in horticultural therapy in Korea. In horticultural therapy it is possible for client to participate on the various levels from passive viewing to active gardening according to the client's ability. Therefore it is necessary for horticultural therapists to consider the therapeutic factors of plant nature to maximize the therapeutic effect of horticultural therapy. The purpose of the research is to clarify the therapeutic factors in the contact of client with plant nature and to emphasize those importance in horticultural therapy. From the review of the experimental researches five therapeutic factors were revealed: Natural light, plant natural view, natural sound, aroma(volatile oils of plants), and plant itself. This paper raises the importance of outdoor activities in horticultural therapy and the necessity for severely handicapped clients to the contact with plant nature, though passively.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to review previous literature to determine the effects of nature-based program for workers. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency's guidance for undertaking systematic reviews for intervention. Literature search was performed using National Assembly Digital Library, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Korea Education & Research Information Service for literature published until March 2019. The participants were full-time workers, and intervention of nature-based programs was conducted in the outdoor, indoor, and indirect nature contact exposures, with comparators in the control group who did not receive the treatment. The results showed that the programs were effective in physical, psychological, and social health. The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias(RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled trials (N-RCT) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studuies (RoBANS). A total of 16 studies were selected for assessment: two RCTs, 10 N-RCTs, and four one-group pretest-posttest designs. Most interventions were provided at the workplace and in the community. There were many kinds of nature-based interventions, and forest therapy and horticultural therapy programs were most common. Various interventions for workers effectively improved job stress, depression, serum cortisol and stress-response. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor. Future research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of nature-based programs for workers using rigorous research designs.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.82-95
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• 2003

Our health is intimately connected to the health of our environment. The contemporary world view which sees a radical distinction between humans as subjects and world as object can obscure our recognition of how much we rely on nature for health and survival. Indigenous traditions and contemporary scholars remind us that we live in a universe in which all things are connected, and in which nature continues to offer its gifts in co-creative partnership for the health and wellbeing of all. Living in awareness of our relationship with nature enables us to open more to the experience of nature's nurturing. Many complementary therapies derive from ancient practices that involve nature in healing partnership. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years. Hippocrates claimed that the way to health was through aromatic baths and massages. Much anecdotal evidence exists regarding aromatherapeutic positive effects on recipients. Aromatherapy is a branch of complementary or alternative therapy which is increasing in popularity, yet has scant scientific credibility. Aromatherapy should be defined as treatment using odors and practised as such. However, essential oils are usually used in conjunction with therapeutic massage and often combined with counselling of some kind. Aromatherapy complements and enhances the therapeutic powers of massage. Massage is one of the most wonderful ways to relax and is throughly beneficial to health. Massage can help unknot tense and aching muscles and other minor symptoms of stress, leaving patients fresh and energized. As the use of aromatherapy within a health care setting has grown so rapidly in recent years, and will continue to do so, the need for suitable training has become apparent. No health service can afford the risk of having staff who are inadequately trained in the practice of aromatherapy using essential oils incorrectly on those in a state of ill-health, especially if the essential oils used are not to a standard suitable for therapeutic use. Training to an acceptable level in aromatic therapy is essential for safety and effectiveness. Knowledge of the nature and make-up of essential oils, their effect on the body and the emotions, and how, when, and where to apply them is imperative in order for them to be beneficial to a patient's health. In order to achieve best practice, further research is necessary to explore the use of aromatherapy in the management of multiple disorder.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.95-105
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• 2010

Background and Purpose : Forest-Therapy has received attention as a treatment of regulating living habits with the increase of chronic disease. Forest-Therapy and Korean Medicine are in same as their philosophy to adapt to nature and they can suggest new alternative treating of chronic diseases. Now we want to look the possibility of development of Forest-Therapy program adopting Korean Medicine with the analysis of research status and cases of Forest-Therapy. Methods : We searched articles in Korea by using keyword 'Forest-Therapy', 'Forest & Therapy' 'Forest' and 'Therapy' Korean. Results : Even though the domestic research about Forest-Therapy is still insufficient, there is a need of try referring the cases of Germany and Japan. Forest-Therapy program was used to get psychological stability, release stress and treat alcohol diseases. There was some cases that adopt the nature to clinical field actively. The clinical articles were mainly published about stress and health. Conclusions : It seems that running the constitutional program that considers different among individuals adopting Sasang constitutional medicine, utilizing Forest-Therapy Doctor through the participation of Public Oriental Medicine Doctor, and operating experience program applying Herb have sufficient possibility.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.43-62
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• 2006

The survey was conducted with participation of the 289 handicapped persons residing at the rural area OOeup-gun in Kyungbook for the period of March 2 - May 31, 2006, to study the nature in general of the handicapped and the boundaries of their need. For the nature in general of the handicapped, the study was done by gender iscrimination, age, marital status, religion, educational level, occupation, monthly income, disability cause, disabled duration, disability type, disability level. For the boundaries of their need, the study was done by demand of financial support, educational demand, demand of voluntary workers, need of rehabilitation and medical treatment, job training, improvement of living conditions, or so. Using the Win.SPSS program, we made a frequency analysis and conclusions on the nature in general of the handicapped and the boundaries of their need on a 2-test. Conclusions are : 1. Nature in general of the handicapped The existence of the handicapped shows high at the age over 51 (71.6%), male-handicapped (65.1%), primary school graduates (62.9%), farming engaging (65.2%), monthly income less than one million Won (80.5%), cause by disease (53.8%), duration more than 10 years (61.6%), disability at level 3 (39.8%), extremity disability (66.4%). 2. Correlation of nature in general with demand of the handicapped a. In demanding the financial support, support for helper’s compensation shows high (p<0.05). In demanding the necessity of voluntary workers, the male-handicapped appears high during the absence of family assistance and the female-handicapped appears differently per week and also appears high during the absence of family assistance (p<0.05). b. In educational demand of the handicapped by their age, the age below 30 demands technical-job training and the age over 31 demands medical education for health care (p<0.01). c. In demanding the financial support by educational level, support for living cost shows high (p<0.05). d. In demanding improvement of living conditions by postnatal cause of disability, improvement of house structure shows high (p<0.05). e. In demanding assistance of voluntary workers by disabled duration, "No Need" shows high in the disabled duration more than 4 years (p<0.05). f. In demanding rehabilitation and medical treatment by disability type, home-visiting treatment, oriental medical treatment and physical therapy show high (p<0.001). g. In educational demand by disability level, medical education for health care shows high (p<0.01).

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2002

Objectives : This study aimed investigation of mutual relation to a psychosomatic disorder and Sasang Constitutinal Medicine. Results : 1. A view of the body and mind, Sasang Constitutinal Medicine is similar to Mind-Body Medicine that a thought of the mind is the central idea. But a viewpoint of the mind to Sasang Constitutinal Medicine is based on Confucianism idea 2. The Nature and Emotion(性情)-a symbol of Happiness, Anger, Sorrow joy(喜怒哀樂) show a characteristic of man relate to an attack of a disease also take a disease itself. But Mind-Body Medicine recognize an attack of a disease caused only by the mind. 3. Sasang Constitutinal Medicine emphasize the care of health by respective The Nature and Emotion(性情) to the treatment and prevention of disease and drug therapy is an assistant. This is similar to an important meaning at psycho therapy-suggestive therapy, autogenic training, relaxation training etc in Mind-Body Medicine. Conclusions : Therefore, Sasang Constitutinal Medicine's clinical use in aspect of psychiatry, must to study human nature regard to korean traditional thought-Confucianism idea

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1437-1444
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• 2010

This research was to find out the effectiveness of the horticultural therapy program based on the therapeutic factors and the most meaningful experiences of the clients. For this purpose "Green harmony" program focused on harmony through horticulture was implemented. It is based on the preposition that holistic health is promoted with harmonious relationships with oneself, other people, community and nature. The program has three-fold structure: In innermost it deals with the task of the late adolescent, i.e., self identity, secondly the experience of communication and solidarity in the group, and finally extension of interest to the community. For the therapeutic intervention, questions using the metaphor of the activity were given to the clients for the establishment of self-identity, while group activity and the donation of the works let the second and third purpose accomplished. Outdoor activity, 'Tire garden project', has provided the clients with chances of the contact with nature, cooperation with other group members, and a contest to provoke enthusiasm. Also recycling and greening of the community were possible by utilizing old tires for the containers and by donating the final works to the community. For the evaluation of the result, the effect of the program on the stress of the college students was tested, and the most meaningful experiences during the participation to the program were asked to identify the therapeutic factors acknowledged by clients. "Green harmony" program has brought positive effects on the stress of the clients in spite of relatively short period of five weeks. The clients has acknowledged plant/nature contact and interactions between group members for the most meaningful experiences. This research suggests "Green harmony" horticultural therapy program based on the therapeutic factors is highly applicable for the general populations.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2018

Previous studies have shown that forest therapy program can help prevent dementia. However, few studies have focused on low-income elderly people living alone. The current study examined the meanings that the elderly living alone receiving medical care assigned to the urban forest therapy program, as a way to understand the pathways that nature-based intervention affect preventing dementia. Twenty-one participants were recruited and they participated in a five-week urban forest therapy program. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 participants who experienced the urban forest therapy program, and analyzed qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results showed that all themes identified were related to connectedness with oneself, neighbors and nature. Awarenesses of change were consisted of positive and negative themes. The themes of positive awareness were improvements of mental and emotional condition, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and health-related lifestyle. The negative themes were terminations of short-term programs and inconvenient access to the urban forest. Based on these data, we suggest an urban green welfare framework for future research and interventions for preventing dementia of underprivileged elderly group.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.515-524
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• 2019

This study was conducted based on the fact that children in institutions for early childhood education located in cities lack the opportunity to experience nature. Therefore, urban parks are where it is possible to observe nature and natural environment, through which we examined the effects of nature activities on kindergarten children's curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability. The subjects of this study were 5-years old kindergarten children in attending public kindergartens in Cheonan and Asan and 42 children were randomly selected. The pretest and posttest were conducted on curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability before and after nature activities. The results showed that nature activities in urban parks had significant effects on improvement of kindergarten children's curiosity and scientific problem-solving ability (p <.05). Therefore, nature activities in urban parks had positive effects on preference for unknown and exploratory behavior, which are sub-factors of kindergarten children's curiosity. Nature activities also had positive effects on discovery and statement of the problem, creation and application of ideas, and conclusion to problem solving.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the various methods of sound therapy(ST) applied to tinnitus patients and their effectiveness, and to suggest an effective method that can be applied in clinical settings. Methods : Studies published from January 2018 to March 2023 were searched on 5 databases(Pubmed, RISS, OASIS, KISS, KCI). All RCTs that applied sound therapy as a main treatment method were included. Results : 14 studies were included. In 13 studies, sound therapy was statistically significant in improving tinnitus. Basic sound therapy was used in 6 studies(42%), followed by tinnitus rehabilitation therapy(TRT)(n=5, 35%). White noise(n=11, 75%) and nature sound(n=4, 28%) were the most frequently used sound sources. In the case of intensity, mixing point were the most common with 6 studies(42%). The mobile application(n=4) was the most frequently used implement. The application time of sound therapy per day was more than 3 hours(n=7), and the total treatment period was more than 3 months(n=9). Conclusions : Our findings indicate that sound therapy could be considered as an intervention for tinnitus patients. For better use, we suggest a basic type of sound therapy or TRT using white noise or nature sound at the mixing point level provided as a mobile phone application. In addition, the treatment period is recommended to be more than 3 hours/day for 3 months.