“抱树”养生火了!是伪科学吗?研究结果来了
中国日报双语新闻
最近,公园的树上“长”满了年轻人。他们回归森林,和树紧紧相拥,吸取天地灵气、日月精华,以让自己恢复活力。看到这个场景,请不要慌张,这是最近悄然兴起的一股新潮流:抱树。
A strange stress-relieving phenomenon — in which young people get solace from hugging trees — has spread to cities across China.
图源:小红书
什么是“抱树”疗法
“抱树”(hugging trees)疗法,又称“树疗”,是一种“拥抱树木、汲取元气”的行为,逐渐发展为当下流行的一种健康治愈的养生方式。
这种养生方式在年轻人中广受欢迎。他们觉得拥抱树木就像拥抱自然一样,能缓解日常压力,让自己恢复元气,进而迎接新一天的挑战。
Hundreds of people shared their tree-hugging experiences or organized gatherings to indulge their passion and relieve their pressure and anxiety on social media.
不少年轻人感慨,小时候对父母分享他们爬树、偷摘邻居家果子的快乐童年感到无趣;没想到长大后的自己,会通过抱树与自然连接。
图源:小红书
一位热衷抱树的年轻人说:“我在拥抱树,觉得树也在拥抱我。”
"Obviously I am hugging the tree, but I feel that the tree is hugging me back," said one enthusiast.
一位因工作压力辞职的女生表示,抱树有助于稳定她的心理状态。她写道:“我沉浸在抱木中,就像冥想一样。”
One woman who quit her job because of extreme work pressure said cuddling trees helped stabilise her psychological state."I immersed myself in hugging trees. It’s like mediation," she wrote.
她补充道:“拥抱树木让我恢复了原始状态。我觉得如此自由,世界如此广阔,也变得更加勇敢。”
"Hugging trees enables me to return to the status of a savage. I feel so free and feel the world is so big. I have also become more brave," she added.
甚至连明星也加入了“抱树”的行列,比如演员金晨和周也。
不只是年轻人,在今年的某档网络访谈节目中,77岁的“绘本奶奶”蔡皋也邀请主持人许知远抱树,还称“抱完之后我就有力气”。
有人认为,抱树确实可以获得能量,感受到治愈;也有人认为“抱树”属于心理安慰,无非是一种“伪科学”。抱树为什么让人心情舒畅呢?
抱树为什么让人心情舒畅?
抱树疗法,最早是一项来自北欧的心理疗愈。在芬兰北部,每年8月甚至会举行“抱树大赛”,日本也有类似的Shinrin-Yoku,翻译过来就是在大自然中沐浴树木的香气。
“抱树疗法”的概念看似新奇,但核心理念并不新鲜。早在1973年,美国生物学家、“社会生物学之父”爱德华·威尔逊(Edward O Wilson)就提出了“亲生命假说 ”(biophilia hypothesis)。
在他1984年出版的《亲生命性》(Biophilia)一书中指出,人类天生喜欢与其他生物在一起:“人类对自然有一种根深蒂固的爱,这是一种本能和自然的动力,铭刻在我们的DNA中。”
Edward O Wilson once had proposed the Biophilia theory in his 1984 book Biophilia. Wilson notes that humans naturally like to be around other living things.
"Humans have a deeply engrained love of nature which is an intuitive and natural drive imprinted into our DNA."
这个理论有助于解释为什么人们更喜欢绿色场景而非城市场景,为什么养宠物的人更加快乐健康,以及为什么我们痴迷于接近可爱的生物。
This theory helps to explain why people prefer green scenes to urban scenes, why pet owners are happier and healthier, and possibly why we’re so obsessed with cute and cuddly animals.
同年,罗杰·乌尔里希(Roger K Ulrich)将自己十年来的观测结果发表在《科学》杂志上,提出现象:能直接看到窗外风景的病人,总是恢复得更快。
在英国研究者马修·西尔弗斯通(MatthewSilverstone)出版的《被科学蒙蔽》(Blindedby Science)一书中,也证明了树木对健康的益处,包括对精神疾病、注意力缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)、注意力水平、反应时间、抑郁和缓解头痛方面有着显著良性影响。
In a published book by author Matthew Silverstone, Blinded by Science, evidence also confirming trees and their healthful benefits includes their effect on mental illnesses, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), concentration levels, reaction times, depression, and the ability to alleviate headaches.
拥抱这个行为也益处多多。被称为“拥抱医生”的临床心理学家斯通克·劳沙尔(Stone Kraushaar)博士在《拥抱疗法》一书中解释道,拥抱有助于提升人体内催产素的含量水平,它是一种与幸福感、快乐感、平静感和信任感等情绪体验息息相关的激素,因此又被称为“拥抱激素”,除了能使人产生依恋感,还有缓解压力的功效。
And related studies have also shown that hugging can trigger the release of oxytocin in individuals, so oxytocin is also known as the "cuddle hormone", in addition to creating feelings of attachment, but also reduce stress.
“抱树养生”是有一定科学道理的。它能够满足我们天生的与自然的联系需求,帮助我们放松和减压,改善我们的情绪,甚至提高我们的免疫能力。
抱树的注意事项
尽管“抱树”等“绿色自然疗法”确实已被证明能对人们的身心健康产生一定的正向作用,但目前仍旧只是作为一种辅助养生疗法。学者们对自然疗法的研究仍在进行中。
While "tree-hugging" and other "green nature therapies" have indeed been shown to have some positive effects on people's physical and mental health, they are currently considered as complementary wellness practices. Researchers are still studying the benefits of nature therapy.
图源:视觉中国
大家可以去尝试,但请不要将其当作解决心身问题的唯一方式。如果你发现自己有着严重的心理和生理上的问题,还请及时向专业人士寻求帮助。
作为一名植物研究者,马丁·萧(Martin Siaw)表现出对“抱树”潮流的担忧:一棵树就是一个直立的生态空间,虽然看不到,但树干上有很多微生物,去抱它会破坏这些珍贵的生态环境。
As a plant researcher, Martin Siaw expresses concerns about the "tree-hugging" trend: a tree is an upright ecological space, and even though it may not be visible, there are many microorganisms on its trunk. Hugging trees can disrupt these valuable ecosystems.
图源:视觉中国
因此,他建议,亲近自然也需保持必要的距离。“如果非要抱,就选择比较普通的树种,那种身上没有附生动植物的,比如樟树。”
Therefore, he suggests that getting close to nature should also maintain a necessary distance. "If you must hug a tree, choose a relatively common tree species that doesn't have epiphytic organisms on it, such as camphor trees."
还有,在“抱树”前一定要先观察树木的健康、卫生和安全情况。市区常见的槐树、柳树、杨树、松树、榆树、法桐等,夏天正是分泌树胶的旺盛期,抱它们太容易蹭脏衣服了。如果是雷雨天气,抱树显然也不是一个安全的选择。
你还有什么放松心情的办法,欢迎来评论区说说!
编辑:朱迪齐
实习生:李经纬
来源:中国新闻网 科普中国 南华早报 Z时代说等