Nothing can compare to the beauty and comfort that comes from adding a few lush flowers and brightly colored plants to our homes and office spaces. Those gorgeous green beams of light, through the foliage. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, cubicles at work, there really isn’t a space that can’t be brought to life when placing a houseplant in it. Some light, some water and you’re good to go with your indoor oasis. Introducing plants into your space is both aesthetically pleasing and quite healthy for you, too. There are some strong health benefits to having a plant or 5 (just kidding, but not really) in your immediate surroundings. These benefits are to your physical health as well as your mental health. Interested? Keep reading.
How Do They Do This?
They Clean the Air
There are lots of houseplants that absorb toxic substances like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. These are substances found in man-made materials and are known to “off-gas” pollutants into the air of your home and other spaces. They also reduce your dust. A recent study found that they can reduce indoor dust by up to 20%, making them pretty efficient air cleaners.
If you are not buying it, NASA is one of the biggest research entities looking at the air-purifying abilities of indoor plants. They are hoping to one day be able to capitalize on these benefits for future space stations and exploration. Their studies have shown that certain houseplants are extremely effective at cleaning the air and have compiled a list of the best ones.
They recommend that you have about 15-18 houseplants for an area the size of 1,800 square feet. If this sounds like too big of a commitment, or you don’t have any knowledge about plants www.urbanorganicyield.com has a bunch of plant tips. Also, most of us do not have the space for zillions of house plants, and others don’t like the idea of cramming all of those plants into your space, so even just a few will make a difference.
They Increase the Humidity
Indoor plants can improve the air quality in other ways. Plants release water vapor. When they do this they increase the humidity of the room. This is good for your chest and respiratory system, as well as your skin. It offsets the drying effects of heating and cooling systems slightly. This can really help people with respiratory issues, and allergies, as well as people who get headaches from the lack of humidity.
They Increase Oxygen
Plants increase the oxygen levels in the air you breathe during photosynthesis. They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Place plants in the spaces you spend the most time in to maximize these benefits.
Increased oxygenation can lead to improved mood, energy, and mental focus. Studies found that work performance improved in offices where people were allowed to have indoor plants. This is why there is a new movement towards foliage full-tech offices that look like a forest or a tropical oasis. They are both impressively beautiful and help people to work and feel better.
They Soothe You
Humans, like any other animal, have a strong connection to nature and always will, no matter how far we drift away from it. Bringing nature into your immediate surroundings calms you, making you feel more content and focused. Outdoor activities decrease stress and anxiety levels, so why should not indoor plants have the same effect? There are currently several ongoing studies that are trying to ascertain whether having plants nearby in a hospital room can help patients to better manage and cope with their pain.
Caring for Something Helps You Care For Yourself
Having beautiful plants to look at is one thing, but actively caring for something and watching it grow, change and thrive, is quite hypnotizing and incredibly satisfying. The act of watering your plants is almost meditative. Admiring your plants’ leaves and flowers by touching them and talking to them can positively impact their growth and is an important routine task. Having a routine is really important. Having a routine helps you to stay on top of things, which helps you to better care for yourself.
A plethora of studies have found that indoor plants keep you happier and healthier, providing you with psychological and physical health benefits. These include, but are not limited to:
- Improving your mood
- Reducing fatigue
- Lowering stress and anxiety
- Improving office performance and focus
- Boosting healing and pain tolerance
- Minimizing the occurrence of headaches
- Easing dry skin issues
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