Take a forest bath

Science has a way of validating the obvious. Consider how often psychologists are quoted in the news to prove something everyone knows.

In the case of "shinrin-yoku," translated as "forest bathing," it has been established that people can "restore balance and health by immersing themselves in a forest environment and absorbing its atmosphere." Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries coined the term years ago, and quite a bit of research has been done on the phenomenon.

Before proceeding, I should emphasize that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV or Facebook. This column...