Plants have been cleaning up the nasty chemicals that circulate in the air we breathe for years. When we used to live outside, we could feel the full effects of the cleaning properties of plants however this changed once humanity evolved and built homes. Now we have to rely on indoor plants to clean the dust particles that can form around cooling and heating systems.
Plants work by absorbing harmful inorganic and organic chemicals and breaking them down into components that they can use for energy. In our homes, plants can help clean the air in a number of ways. They are useful in removing the toxic fumes from burning candles and increasing the volume of oxygen for us to breathe.
There is some evidence that plants are even capable of purifying and revitalizing the air in space stations to help astronauts breathe clean air. Another study found whilst comparing the effects of having plants in the bedroom, after six months, the room that had no plants had over 50% more bacteria and airborne microbes compared to the room with plants in it.
The benefits that these green gems can have on your health are clear. In your home, they reduce the negative effects of dry sinuses by increasing the humidity. They also lessen congestion and reduce asthma symptoms so your lungs feel clear and you can breathe more easily. Here are six house plants that will improve your overall health naturally.
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Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
The Spider plant has a special ability to break down and prevent the build-up of formaldehyde in your home. Sources of formaldehyde in your home include the building materials that make up your home. It is also contained in some of the solvents and resins in these building materials which can leak into your living environment. This is bad news as this chemical is harmful to humans and causes things like respiratory problems, allergies as well as eye irritation.
The effectiveness of the spider plant to reduce the amount of formaldehyde in a home is well documented and regarded as a good way of improving the environment of your home. The plants are elegant in shape and have long leaves that are a mix of white and green stripes. They look particularly nice when hung up in your home and the leaves are allowed to drape down.
The main plant will also grow the baby version out of the parent plant which can be harvested and grown in a glass jar with some water in it. You’ll have a collection of spider plants in no time that will all be working hard to reduce the number of harmful chemicals circulating in your air. Your mind will be at rest knowing that the air you breathe is being constantly purified.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Aromatherapy is something that is looked over quite often however its benefits are real and should not be disregarded. Lavender has a scent that is known to help people relax and reduces stress. In fact, the effects of lavender are thought of as being so significant that hospitals are now using the oils from lavender as a form of treatment. A study looked at the impact of lavender in altering mood states and found that patients experienced reduced feelings of anxiety and had an overall better mood.
One thing to keep in mind if you decide to grow some lavender in your home is that it requires a lot of sunlight to flourish. This means that the plant is best suited in a window on the south side of your home. That way it will be exposed to the most amount of sun. It also means that the scent from the lavender will be able to circulate throughout your home helping to make you feel relaxed.
Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Aloe Vera is a plant with real healing properties that are extremely useful for things like dry skin, frostbite, and burns. The liquid found inside the Aloe Vera plant helps speed up the wound healing process whilst having antibacterial and antioxidant properties. As well as being applied to the skin, when ingested Aloe Vera has been found to reduce constipation and lower blood sugar levels.
This plant will sit comfortably on a windowsill in your kitchen or bathroom. Aloe Vera is a succulent, which means that it doesn’t require as much watering as other plants, however it does need plenty of sunlight to grow.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
The Peace Lily has been proven to reduce the number of harmful chemicals circulating in the air in your home. It mainly removes organic compounds that are extremely volatile, with the three main ones being benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. As well as these compounds, the Peace Lily also reduces the levels of xylene and toluene circulating in the air.
One of the benefits of this plant is that it does not require much sunlight to grow. It is said that it can actually flourish with the artificial light found in homes along with indirect light coming through the windows. The best indicator to know when to water the Peace Lily is if leaves begin to drop. Be careful however, these leaves are poisonous and should be kept away from any pets or children in the home.
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)
The Gerbera Daisy is another plant that is good at removing harmful gases such as benzene from the air in your home. This plant needs lots of sunlight so they are best placed by a window on the south side of your home.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium)
Chrysanthemums are super effective at filtering toxic chemicals and compounds that can accumulate in your living space. Ammonia, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene are just some of the compounds that these plants can absorb and neutralize. This helps to make your home environment much safer to breathe in, improving the overall health of not only you but all of your loved ones.
