Benefits of house plants
I have previously featured on article on the benefits of house plants and how plants are beneficial for improving indoor air quality. But house plants offer even more health and wellness benefits. Bet you didn't know that plants can offer relief from headache sufferers?
House plants cleanse the air in our homes and contribute greatly to the overall health of the indoor air we breathe
What most people have now come to realise is that our homes are filled with toxic chemicals; carpets, paint, cleaning agents and fabrics often carry a variety of toxins, which over time can rob us of optimal health.
The most toxic chemicals found in the home are formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. While many manufacturers are looking at alternatives, we have yet to see the complete absence of these dangerous chemicals in our homes.
We learnt at school that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Studies on house plants over the last decade are now showing that certain plants can also enable us to breath cleaner air by absorbing toxic chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. You can enquire at your local nursery or garden centre as to plant species that will be suitable for your home.
Plants are not only natural air freshners, they are also nature's humidifiers as well, and those with pollen allergies can easily opt for foliage plants instead of those with seasonal blossoms. A fern or peace lily on your bedside table will freshen up a bedroom, and a plant that loves low-light conditions will improve air quality in a stuffy bathroom.
A bouquet of flowers, or house plant given to someone recuperating from illness not only makes them feel good. Studies show that plants are effective in helping recover from illness and actually can speed recovery time by contributing to a feeling of well-being.
Even if you don't have a green thumb, there are many varieties of plants that require very little maintenance and won't die off the first time you forget to water them. I have a few plants in my home that thrive, despite the infrequent care they receive.
