House plants are not only an object of décor but also are wonderful in offering tremendous health benefits to mankind. There are some real health benefits, including both physical health benefits as well as mental health benefits of having house plants.
Physical Health Benefits of House Plants
-
House Plants Assist in Easier Breathing
Our body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide when we breathe. During photosynthesis, plants do absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Thus, this opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. So, by adding house plants to the interior spaces, we can increase the oxygen levels inside.
However, at night photosynthesis ceases and plants generally respire like humans, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. However, a few plants such as orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads, take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the night. So, it is good to place such house plants in your bedroom so as to refresh air during the night. This makes an easier breathing for you.
-
House Plants are Beneficial in Quick Recovery and Overall Health
Most of us must have noticed house plants placed in hospitals. As per researchers at Kansas State University, adding house plants to hospital rooms actually speed up recovery rates of surgical patients, compared to patients in rooms without house plants. It is also noticed that patients in rooms with the house plants experience less pain and request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and lower blood pressure, experienced less anxiety and fatigue and also were released from the hospital sooner.
One more study also discovered that by adding house plants to office settings there was a reduction in fatigue, colds, coughs, headaches, sore throats and flu-like symptoms of the employees. One study by the Agricultural University of Norway found that sickness rates fell by more than 60% in offices having house plants.
-
Benefits of House Plants in Fighting Cold
House plants are known to fight colds and cold related illnesses by more than 30%. This is because of their effect of increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.
-
House Plants are Beneficial in Preventing Allergies
House plants can help preventing allergies. They work like a custom allergy shot naturally. By exposing children to allergens like plants early in their life, we can help them build a tolerance and immunity to the allergen.
-
Air is Purified with House Plants
According to NASA research, it is found that plants remove toxins from air up to 87% of VOCs or volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene etc.
Air tight buildings trap VOCs inside. The NASA research found that plants purify that trapped air by pulling contaminants in to soil, where root zone microbes convert VOCs in to food for the plant.
-
Benefits of House Plants in Improving Sleep
House plants aid in improving sleep. You can have an improved sleep by keeping house plants, especially like Gerbera daisies that give off oxygen at night.
Mental Health Benefits of House Plants
-
Benefits of House Plants in Improving Focus and Mental Acuity
House plants are known to increase our focus, memory , heighten our attention and enhance creativity in us by increasing the oxygen in the air we breathe and by removing pollutants present in the air inside our home.
-
Mental Health Benefits of House Plants
House plants can contribute to our feeling of wellbeing, make us calmer and be optimistic. They help us in improving our mental health. Research has shown that having house plants help in reducing stress, anxiety, and enhance feelings of calm and improve mood and self esteem to a greater way. Plants in house also aid in easing feelings of depression and enhance general feeling of well being and mind.
Conclusion:
With all the wonderful health benefits of House plants known here; it is obvious that it is the right time to get some exclusive house plants for your home, office, workplace and enjoy a better health and better living.
