At Zungleboo, we’re aware of the power of plants, but not just the kind that we make our plant-based plates with.
We’ve always had plants in our home, but it wasn’t until recently that we began to understand that their benefit goes beyond just looking great in our rooms. We had no idea they were so beneficial to health and well-being as well as indoor air quality. And since it’s February right now, it’s important to note that houseplants are especially important in winter.
Mental healing
To start with, just having greenery in the house this time of year helps lift my mood and chase away the winter blahs. One study found that office workers who had plants felt better about their jobs, took fewer sick days and worried less. (Note to self: get a plant for the home office desk!)
Physical health
In addition to the mood enhancing benefits, there are some very real physical health and wellness benefits. Here are just a few:
- Turn up the humidity: If you suffer from dry, itchy skin add some spider plants to your room. One study found that the presence of spider plants upped the relative humidity in a room from 20% to 30%.
- Catching Zs: For those who are looking for some better sleep, houseplants may help. Plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide and some plants, like Gerbera daisies continue to give off oxygen even after the sun goes down and the extra oxygen may help you get some better Zs.
- Clearing the air: Several types of plants can actually help improve indoor air quality. Research from NASA (yep – the space agency) demonstrates that some plants work to purify the air in a room. In layman’s terms, the plants can “pull” bad air caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into their roots and out of the air. If you want to know more about the science, check out the information from NASA.
- Ease the allergies: Research shows that rooms with plants have less dust and mold than rooms without plants. These are two common irritants that cause allergy symptoms. Of course, if you have pollen allergies, you’ll want to make sure that the plants you chose don’t have pollen or spores.
Power of plants
Those are some benefits of just having plants in the home. Plants have other benefits when used in the diet, as topical treatments or aromatherapy.
- The aroma of mint plants may improve brain function and there is evidence to support that mint can help with digestion. Try it in tea or look for mint oil capsules.
- Some people swear by the aroma of lavender for promoting calm and relaxation.
- And of course, the benefits of aloe for minor skin burns are well documented.
So, what are you waiting for? Add a bit of greenery to your home and don’t be afraid, not all plants require a green thumb. Several types are very easy to take care of. Ask a plant loving friend or at your local nursery for help finding the plant that’s right for you, and let the power of plants better your life!
