Plants are a refreshing aesthetic to your home and offer great health benefits. They bring purpose and pleasure to our homes and our lives. Let’s keep it short and sweet so you can see what I’m talking about…

improves mental health

My favorite health benefit, and one of the reasons I started with plants, is they have been proven to help your mental state (Texas A&M). As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I deal with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I hated taking prescription medications, so I was willing to try anything natural that would help my mental health!

Being in nature can help lighten your mood, whether you’re a nature person or not. The fresh greenery, extra oxygen, and calmness they portray instantly kick in the endorphins, or happy hormones, in our bodies. It’s a natural way to boost your mood. Is it a cure for depression? No. But, I can tell you I feel more relieved and lifted with my plants, than without.

Plants also give off a calm and peaceful vibe. We live in a fast-paced world that has us rushing around. Rushing through life, tasks, work, and household duties heightens anxiety. However, plants offer a peaceful and calm atmosphere. There are even plants with amazing scents. Pleasant scents help you release endorphins which make you feel relaxed and happy.

benefits our immune system

Plants can help give our immune system the boost it needs to aid in fighting off illnesses and allow for better sleep (Fiorenzi). As stated above, they take in toxic chemicals, bacteria, and viruses and utilize them as food. Then, they release oxygen and cleaner air. This purified air gives us better air to breathe which aids in our sleeping! If you’ve ever taken a nice stroll outside, you might have noticed how relaxed you felt afterward and the peaceful sleep that follows.

Plants in your bedroom can give you the clean and purified air your body needs to have sufficient oxygen for more sound sleep. When you’re experiencing sleepless nights, it takes a great toll on your body and mind. It affects your productivity throughout the day and your moods. When you get the sleep you need, you feel more relaxed and it aids your immune system to help fight off bacteria and viruses causing you to get sick.

You may not even notice the physical or positive effects at first. Until you realize you haven’t had that cold or flu that’s been passed around your job, school, or friends! The health benefits plants can offer are remarkable.

sources

A&M, Texas. “Ellison Chair in International Floriculture.” Ellison Chair in International Floriculture ICal, ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/.

Fiorenzi, Ryan, and Mary Frances. “Best Plants to Help You Sleep.” Start Sleeping, 19 Dec. 2019, startsleeping.org/the-best-plants-to-help-you-sleep/.