As you trek through a forest, the sunlight-dappled leaves, the gentle murmur of a nearby creek, and the melodious symphony of birds melt stress away and envelop you in a blanket of calm.
We now know that the benefits of forest therapy, or shinrin-yoku, are many, including lowered blood pressure, improved mood, and reduced risk of depression. But the experience can evoke a panoply of emotions that vary for each person. The underlying commonality, however, is our shared humanity and how we relate to being in nature.
Can AI-driven systems relate this type of less tangible―yet real―benefit to human health? It’s complicated.
New technologies and their trade-offs
Since its emergence, artificial intelligence (AI) has created questions, fear, curiosity, and hope, not unlike other technologies that humans have created throughout history. This is due both to its known and its unknown capabilities―and its potential risks.
The ability of these systems to, in record time, acquire data from the immense ocean of knowledge collected over many years is an outstanding feat.
But, while they may provide potentially accurate information, there are some ethical concerns related to the way AI systems develop and evolve, their obvious lack of emotional intelligence and empathy, and their inability to actually understand human nature.
The lack of discernment when it comes to the base learning material used by the AI system can also create problems for their outputs. For example, AI-generated bias can occur if the data used to train an AI algorithm is not diverse or representative.
Medicine in the AI era
Many of us have found ourselves in the doctor’s office following tests and a long wait for a diagnosis and suggested course of treatment, hoping that no mistakes or misinterpreted data have affected the process.
Enter AI-driven systems, which can improve the prediction accuracy, speed, and efficiency of the diagnostic process through algorithms trained with data spanning many years of analysis and medical practice. A valuable diagnostic tool they may provide, but a tool nonetheless, which is still met with reservation in some medical circles.
Traditional and nature-based therapies are multifaceted
Nature-based and traditional therapies are based on practices, skills, and philosophies that are rooted in cultural and historical contexts, which set them apart from Western medicine. They also have a holistic, personalized approach to restoring “balance of mind, body, and environment.”
To the extent that enough data is available for training (think, for example, herbal medicine), AI systems can draw from the knowledge specific to traditional therapies, and they can provide ideas that are complementary to Western medicine.
However, no matter how sophisticated, AI systems will never be able to deliver the empathic quality of the relationship between therapist and client. Nor can they replicate the interpersonal space that is less rule-based and is, instead, supported by cultural practices and spiritual beliefs, as well as a certain level of intuition informed by each client’s lived experience.
Redefining measurable input and outcomes
Have you ever heard someone say, “What gets measured, gets managed”? When it comes to Western medicine and using AI-driven systems as diagnostic tools, this appears self-explanatory.
But what about the part of healthcare practice that pertains to overall health and well-being that may not be captured using standardized diagnostic tools? Traditional and nature-based medical practices often rely on a different understanding of disease and healing, which is harder (although not impossible) to align with the way AI systems operate.
An “alliance” may be the way to allow traditional and natural therapies to maintain their relevance in an AI-driven world. In fact, AI-trained systems are already being used in certain complementary therapies such as herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
In case of the latter, machine learning-based systems can be useful in identifying diseases accurately based on symptoms and offering effective treatment plans.
What we need to know about artificial intelligence
- AI models require massive amounts of fossil fuel-based electricity as well as large volumes of water for cooling hardware.
- Generative AI is a source of e-waste, projected to reach up to 5 million tonnes by 2030.
- AI inquiries, some more complex than others, require approximately 10 times more energy than an old-style online search, while two AI-generated images require the energy equivalent of an average smartphone charge.
- There is a dark side: malicious AI is the deliberate use of trained systems to create misinformation that deceives, exploits, or manipulates people, ultimately creating harm. In the realm of Western and alternative medicine, deep fakes of reputable health practitioners are being created to promote potentially harmful health claims and sell unproven supplements, which can negatively impact health, finances, and ultimately credibility in various therapies.
What the future holds
Artificial intelligence is here to stay and, much as in other fields, questions about who is using whom are abounding in healthcare, too. Machine learning can provide practitioners with expansive databases that combine science and traditional knowledge, which can be helpful in diagnosing conditions to prescribe treatment―acting as a tool rather than a healthcare-professional replacement.
Nature-based therapies rely on the patient-practitioner relationship, which can never be replaced by a system that lacks emotional intelligence and ability to connect at a human-to-human level. However, AI systems can provide tools that save a practitioner time and energy, such as safety profiles for herbs or interactions between herbs and conventional drug treatments.
While such systems could never relate to the depth of our relationship with nature, to the need to stay connected to land and/or community, or to our quest for mindfulness and simplicity, they can provide us with the knowledge extracted from our journey as humans, which is both vast and invaluable.
The space that will remain human
AI can’t replace the experience of waking up to a new day; of greeting the sun and feeling warmth and light on our skin; of taking in a deep breath as we watch clouds roll in, recognizing the refreshing smell of rain; or of feeling safe in the space we share with people who provide healing tools through therapeutic touch and through listening. AI can, however, provide a “magic tome” that opens exactly where we need it.
Being human on either side of the healing process is, in the case of nature-based and traditional therapies, a complex process that has evolved—and will continue to evolve―over time.
A significant part of life as we know it—whether we’re seeking healing and comfort through touch, herbal remedies, time in nature or deepening our wisdom through belonging and honouring our intuition—remains ours to own, no matter how spectacular the strides in technological progress.
Healing helpers that pre-date AI
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and possibly anticancer properties.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and potentially neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties.
Ashwagandha may lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, supportive of brain, eye, and skin health.
Fermented foods (such as yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut) are sources of beneficial bacteria and pre- and biotics, known for their positive impact on gut health and well-being.
Therapeutic modalities that support health and well-being—including therapeutic massage, movement therapy, breathwork, acupuncture, emotional freedom technique, and bioenergy healing—may foster a holistic interpersonal connection between patient and healthcare practitioner.
This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue of alive magazine.
