• Can Plants Combat Indoor Air Pollution and Improve Health?

Air Clean Up

Can Plants Combat Indoor Air Pollution and Improve Health?

Jun 05 2016

Many people like to have potted plants in their house to add a touch of colour and cosiness to the homestead, but they may not realise that indoor vegetation can have other tangible health benefits, as well. With indoor pollution up to three times more noxious than that found on the streets, it appears they may be well worth incorporating into your home.

Various studies have found that thriving plants can improve the mood of those around them not only through their aesthetic appearance, but also the relationship of necessity which they demand from their owner. Being depended upon for the survival of a living creature makes us feel needed, apparently, while they have also been shown to improve productivity in the workplace.

Aside from the mental benefits of keeping plants, they also have a number of physical health boons, as well. Here are five advantages of making sure your house is dotted with an abundance of verdant greenery:

  1. They aid respiration

Since people need oxygen to breathe and we exhale carbon dioxide, and plants do exactly the opposite, we make for ideal cohabitants. Filling your home with plenty of plants will do wonders to raise oxygen levels, thus giving your health a boost in the process.

  1. They enhance healing

Ever heard of mind over matter? Apparently, that saying holds true when it comes to healing from injury or illness, too. The presence of plants can help to lift people’s moods subconsciously, which can have a knock-on effect on how quickly their body physically recovers.

  1. They combat indoor air pollution

Formaldehyde is a common carcinogenic found in the home through the use of paints, cleaners and detergents, among other products. Plants such as geraniums, lavender and spider plants are instrumental in absorbing this harmful pollutant and keeping pollution levels to a minimum. The latter is also adept at warding off carbon monoxide, as well as benzene – which has been proven to increase the chance of contracting cancer to 1 in 100,000 when exposed to levels as low as 1.7 micrograms per cubic metre over a prolonged period. For more information on which plants are good at cleaning up which contaminants, check out this handy article.

  1. They ward off illness

By constantly circulating the air we breathe, plants can help to eliminate stuffy vapours from our homes. In turn, this can serve to prevent headaches and even lower blood pressure. Furthermore, you’re less likely to suffer from dry skin, coughs, colds and sore throats if you keep a couple of potted plants in good shape.

  1. They can improve your memory

Suffering from the forgetfulness that seems to come hand in hand with advanced years? Not to worry – simply plant some rosemary in a pot in your bedroom. As well as improving overall air quality, rosemary has been found to improve the memories of people who are exposed to it for extended periods of time.

A Cheap Alternative to Air Filtration

With a growing number of people concerned about the quality of the air they breathe inside their own homes, a huge market has opened up for air filtration technologies. In fact, the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2014! Compared to such lofty figures, a few pounds on a potted plant in your bedroom seems a steal. Save your money, your mind and your body and invest in nature’s air filter today.   


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