Health Benefits of House Plants

Plants — they’re alive, colorful, scented , and did we mention just plain beautiful? While many people are aware of the many decorative benefits of plants, few realize that they have the ability to improve your mental and physical health. Whether you live in the “Concrete Jungle” or the vineyards of Northern California, every home can benefit from bringing the great outdoors inside.

Plants reduce stress levels

Have you ever noticed that the minute you step out into a lush forest or beautiful park, you instantly feel at ease? It’s not your imagination: People actually feel calmer when surrounded by greenery.

Plants improve air quality

Believe it or not, some plants are so good at purifying air and supplying oxygen that NASA actually requires them to be onboard certain spaceships.

But even your typical green plant has the ability to:

• Reduce carbon dioxide levels in your home.
• Control humidity levels.
• Reduce pollution levels in your home (specifically the pollutants benzene and nitrogen).
• Diminish airborne dust levels.
• Lower room temperatures.
• Add pure, clean oxygen to a room.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

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Calming Peace Lily Plant

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Plants help you heal

Plants may not be a miracle cure, but studies have shown that something as simple as looking at a picture of nature can decrease pain levels. Take, for example, a 1993 study that looked at how artwork and simulated windows in hospitals affected patient healing. Amazingly, patients who looked at landscape photographs (compared to others who had white panels or abstract paintings in their room) reported less anxiety and needed less medication.

The reason? Scientists believe that the calming effects of nature images can reduce cortisol levels and improve your mood, effectively speeding up the healing process. If a picture can do all that, imagine what live plants could do!

6 health-promoting plants to bring into your home