ergo-log.com

Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "

02.03.2019

How trees enhance your immune system

Natural Killer Cells are the Navy Seals of your immune system. They quickly and aggressively eliminate viruses, bacteria and cancer cells. If you live in a tree-rich environment, you inhale all kinds of substances that make Natural Killer Cells more effective and aggressive. In 2006, Japanese researchers from Nippon Medical School published a study that shows how.

Study
The researchers experimented with human Natural Killer Cells. In test tubes, the Japanese exposed these cells to very small concentrations of hinoki oil [the volatile oil of the conifer Chamaecyparis taiwanensis], white cedar oil, alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole.

Alpha-pinene is found in volatile oil of conifers, but also in rosemary. 1,8-cineole is found in the volatile oil of the camphor tree, but also in herbs such as mint, thyme, basil, and sage.

The concentrations used by the Japanese could theoretically occur in the body of people who breathe in these essential oils and substances. The Japanese already these substances phytoncides. Trees manufacture them to protect themselves against diseases and pests, but they also stimulate our immune system, the Japanese think.

Results
When the Japanese let their Natural Killer Cells interact with cancer cells, they saw that the Natural Killer Cells killed more cancer cells in the presence of essential oils, alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole.

Below you see how essential oils, alpha-pinene and 1,8-cineole made the Natural Killer Cells more effective, you can see below. Because of the exposure to these substances, the Natural Killer Cells made more perforin, granulysin and granzyme-A.

These substances enable Natural Killer Cells to attack cancer cells and cells infected with viruses. Perforin, granulysin and granzyme-A are agressive enzymes that can literally dissolve the cell membranes of faulty cells.

Conclusion
"Phytoncides significantly enhance human Natural Killer Cell activity, and this effect at least partially is the result of increased expression of intracellular cytolytic molecules as perforin, granzyme A, and granulysin", write the researchers.

"Although the underlying mechanism of phytoncide-induced increases in intracellular perforin, granzyme A, and granulysin requires further study, the present findings strongly suggest that forest bathing may have beneficial effects on human immune function."

"We are planning to investigate this effect in a field study."

That field research has already been completed. Links to post about it below.

Source:
Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2006;28(2):319-33.

More:
More trees in your area, more Natural Killer Cells in your body 16.02.2019
Trees protect against cancer 10.07.2012
Walking in green areas healthier than walking in the city 20.06.2012

Archives:
Immune System

Outdoor workouts motivate better than indoor workouts If you think you should start training but you're not sure whether you'll manage to keep it up, if at all possible go and train outdoors.	Green neighborhood lowers breast cancer risk Living in the vicinity of parks, gardens and other urban green spaces may reduce the risk of breast cancer.	It's healthier to run in the fields than on the treadmill Training in green surroundings is good for your mental health, according to psychologists at the University of Essex.