Having indoor plants in your room or your office can be useful for your health. They not only add greenery to your place but improves the quality of our life by interacting with our mind and body. Besides being aesthetically appealing and enhancing the décor of your area, it has various health benefits too. As most of us are not aware of the actual health benefits of indoor plants or house plants, let understand why it is important to keep indoor plants;
- Improve air quality and act as an air purifier.
Indoor plants improve the air quality of our surrounding by increasing the oxygen level and by reducing the carbon dioxide level and other harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, xylene, benzene to name few which is found in carpets, furniture and household items. They help in eliminating toxins from the environment and helps in keeping the temperature of the room down and also helps in keeping the dust level low. Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) – Helps in air purifying and removing formaldehyde. Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) removes benzene, toluene and xylene. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) removes moulds from the air.
- Natural humidifier:
Indoor plants help increases the humidity level; it releases roughly 95% of the water in the atmosphere, which helps prevents the survival of flu viruses, especially during winters and dry summers. Plant-like areca palm releases moistures which is excellent for dry winters and helps in dealing with colds, coughs, dry skin, sore throat etc. Also, plants like chamaedorea seifrizii (bamboo palm) or Ficus Benjamina Weeping fig) regulated the humidity. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) humidifies the air.
- Natural air freshener:
Some indoor plants like Citrus hystrix act as a natural air freshener, it is natural and is chemical-free, there is no need to buy artificial freshener keep a bunch of citrus hystrix or scented geraniums and breath refreshingly. Plants like lavender (Lavandula) and jasmine (Jasminum) are good air freshener and help in sleeping better. The smell of these plants has a calming effect on an individual.
- Natural healers:
These household plants not only improve the health of an individual, but it acts as a natural healer according to the studies conducted by Kansas state university. The health of people naturally grows in the presence of these vibrant, colourful indoor plants. It also helps in lowering blood pressure, pain, anxiety and fatigue. The volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by buildings materials and other household equipment’s causes stress and anxiety among people which can be cured by these natural healers.
- Helps in focusing better:
With stressful life nowadays it is hard to concentrate and be stress-free. The studies have shown that rooms which have these indoor plants help in concentrating better, it has a positive effect on an individual and increases our productivity.
Plants with broader leaves are more effective in reducing stress, helps in attaining better sleep and creating a happy and breathable environment.
- Lower background noise:
These indoor plants help in decreasing the noise level as the building where we live in refract the sound level and by planting the indoor plants absorbs the waves and high frequencies and reduced the noise levels. Plants with broader leaves or shrubs will create a difference in the noise levels.
- Medicinal Quality:
Some plants like aloe vera act as herbs or medicines and has healing properties; the gel of these plants is helpful in burns or skin cut. It is a natural remedy for irritated skin. It also moisturizes the skin and can be used as an aftershave. Plant-like thyme helps in sore throat.
All these plants have a different level of purifying abilities and unique character, and thus its presence should be increased in our life for a better experience.
