Did you know that home plants can help create the perfect home atmosphere? But also, thanks to them, you can improve your physical and emotional health.
Improve your health with house greenery
The power of our green helpers
Many of us keep potted flowers or other indoor plants at home. Many do it because it is beautiful. But the most important is useful. However, not everyone is fully aware of the benefits that indoor plants bring, how they affect the emotional state of a person, and our life as a whole. Some plants can remove toxins from the air, others help to concentrate on important matters, etc. But not only this is the influence of indoor plants on human health. In this article, we will talk about the most useful in all senses of the word indoor plants.
House greenery treats injuries
The influence of indoor plants on human health is quite large. For example, aloe vera (Aloe Barberae), also known as a desert lily, is an immortal medicinal plant. It affects the human body and has many useful properties, including purifying the air in the home.
The juice contained in the leaves of aloe vera is used to heal cuts and burns, including sunburn. Already in Ancient Egypt, they knew about the properties of this plant, using it to treat burns, infections, and insect control. But not only this is its health benefits. So, steam from a decoction of aloe leaves is also used to relieve asthma attacks.
Indoor plants make the atmosphere cleaner
Plants have a significant impact on human life. NASA conducted a study to determine which houseplants help cleanse the air we breathe by eliminating harmful toxins. Chlorophytum (Chlorophytum Comosum) is one such greenery. This flower is very popular, its health benefits are undeniable. Besides, chlorophytum is very easy to breed.
The health of every person depends on air quality. Plants are beneficial in this case. Chlorophytum purifies the air of benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. All of these volatile organic compounds enter our home through furniture, carpets, and ordinary household products.
Ficus Elastica (Ficus elastica) is another houseplant from NASA’s list. This popular ornamental plant with thick shiny oval leaves also has beneficial effects on human health.
This type of ficus perfectly cleans the air of formaldehyde. This toxin gets into the air through furniture, flooring, and products such as air fresheners, hair sprays, or nails. Over time, the effectiveness of the plant only increases, which means that the positive effect on the human body increases.
Thanks to house greenery you can breathe clean air
It is very important in which microclimate a person spends his day. It has been proven that it is the dry and warm environment created by central heating batteries, air conditioners, and UFO infrared heaters that promotes the reproduction and long-term preservation of viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces. According to sanitary standards, a person’s air humidity is 30-60%, but in winter, due to heating and inadequate ventilation, it often falls below the permissible minimum, which is comparable to dry weather (in the summer in the steppe zone – from 27 to 11%) or air in the desert. Under such conditions, our well-being worsens, performance decreases, water metabolism is disrupted, due to the drying of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and oral cavity, their ability to cleanse themselves decreases, breathing is difficult, and as a result, weakened immunity and disease.
This is not news, but an important aspect. Many home plants produce oxygen. For example, Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a very unpretentious and widespread indoor plant with long dense leaves. It is able not only to decorate any room but also to positively affect human health.
We all know that when a person exhales carbon dioxide, plants perform the opposite effect, producing oxygen. Most plants do this during the day, but sansevieria is one of the few indoor plants that produce oxygen even at night, making it an ideal flower for the bedroom. You can put a pot with sansevieria within a radius of 2 m from the place where you sleep or spend a lot of time. Then the health benefits will be maximum.
They also indoor plants moisturize the air. About 10% of the air we breathe is humidified by plants. Dipsis (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens) is one of the most popular indoor palm trees. This houseplant with juicy leaves has a beneficial effect on our life and health. Dipsis saturates the air with moisture, which is especially important in the winter months. Plants such as cacti or succulents also bring health benefits: they accumulate water and therefore produce little moisture.
Pleasure for your sense of smell
The influence of indoor plants on humans is not limited to the fact that they are important for health. The use of indoor plants also lies in the fact that they can create a positive atmosphere. Say, to fill your home with a refreshing aroma, it is not necessary to use household chemicals. Better get a plant with a pleasant smell – for example, kaffir lime (Citrus Hystrix). This indoor plant that does not contain any chemicals will help not only to refresh the house but also indispensable in the kitchen.
Your stable emotional state
Studies have proven the influence of indoor plants on the emotional state of a person. Plants at home and work help reduce stress and fatigue, as well as increase employee productivity.
To feel the influence of indoor plants on a person, we advise you to put flowers with long leaves on the desktop in the office or at home, as well as in the room where your children do their homework or study. Soon you will understand the benefits of indoor plants. Indoor plants such as palm trees, primarily Chamedorea (Chamaedorea Seifrizii) or Benjamin’s ficus (Ficus Benjamina), will regulate indoor air humidity and reduce carbon dioxide levels. And this is not a complete list of the effect of greenery on human life.
Moreover, some indoor plants help make sleep more enjoyable and deep. This is a very important aspect because we can better relax, gain strength, and feel more alert and healthy. We do not always manage to sleep the recommended seven or eight hours – especially when the brain is busy with constant thoughts about what happened during the day and what needs to be done tomorrow. But the influence of indoor plants on humans is manifested here.
According to studies, vapors of some plants – including lavender (Lavandula) and jasmine (Jasminum) – contribute to a more restful sleep. The smell of these plants creates a feeling of calm, which will help you better prepare for bed. As you can see, the influence of indoor plants on a person, his health, and mood are truly invaluable.
Just good mood
Plants also affect the mood of a person. When we are unwell, nothing improves the emotional state and does not raise the mood like a gift in the form of a plant in a pot or a bouquet. Studies have proven the beneficial effects of indoor plants on the health and emotional state of people. So, in hospitals, patients with flowers in their wards or windows facing the garden are recovering much faster than patients whose emotional health is not stimulated by plants.
Plants cheer up and help us feel more relaxed and protected. The benefits of plants are also that they help to cope with loneliness and depression. Caring for a living organism gives a feeling of satisfaction, especially when the plant that we cared for with love begins to bloom. As the first wards, choose unpretentious flowers, for example, Uzambar Violets (Saintpaulia). They bloom throughout the year and do not require special care.
Conclusion
Now you know how important it is to keep healthy plants at home. But the main thing is how to use them effectively with maximum health benefits. Try to follow our tips, and very soon you will feel positive changes in your health, emotional mood, and physical health.
Cover image: Photo by Pxhere
After working as a writer for various media publications, Brenner decided to start his own blog top10pack.com where he covers topics of lifestyle, house decoration and home security.
