Top 18 Indoor Plant Picks for Promoting Wellness at Home
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Indoor plants are not just decorative additions to our homes and workplaces; they offer a host of health benefits that extend beyond air purification and stress reduction.
The Boston fern, while finicky to care for, improves humidity levels, particularly beneficial for people with skin conditions like dermatitis. English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a versatile air-purifying plant that reduces swelling, prevents intoxication, and helps ease the symptoms of asthma.
The money tree, despite being toxic to pets and people, helps clear the air of pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. The snake plant, easy to care for and adaptable to various lighting situations, also purifies the air.
The golden pothos, known for its low-maintenance nature and ability to grow well in low lighting, joins the ranks of air-purifying plants. The Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is particularly good at removing gases that may come off certain furniture materials and works to purify the room like other plants on the list.
Gerbera daisies, with their pretty flowers, are great air purifiers as well. The Pineapple Plant (Ananas comosus) produces more oxygen and helps purify the home like other plants on the list. The areca palm can help purify toxins like toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde, and acts as a natural humidifier.
Beyond air purification and stress reduction, indoor plants offer several additional health benefits. They contribute to mental well-being by promoting calmness, improving mood, and enhancing mindfulness. Horticultural therapy uses plants as a therapeutic tool in mental health treatment.
By releasing oxygen and increasing humidity, some plants may reduce the impact of airborne allergens like dust and dander, potentially helping people with allergies or asthma. Certain plants, such as the ZZ plant, are noted for improving concentration and mental clarity.
Plants like the areca palm help raise indoor humidity, which can alleviate dryness in airways and skin, especially in dry environments. Some plants have been linked to boosting immunity (e.g., basil) and promoting overall physical well-being through their aromatic and therapeutic properties.
Certain culturally significant plants (like tulsi and eucalyptus) are believed to bring positive energy, improve spiritual well-being, and enhance mental clarity through their aroma and presence.
Caring for plants can be therapeutic and help improve feelings of anxiety, depression, and dementia. Indoor plants can improve air quality within homes by adding oxygen and filtering pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, benzene, and more.
The spider plant is pet-friendly and helps filter carbon monoxide, styrene, xylene, benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde from indoor air. The peace lily is a top plant for breaking down toxic gases in the air and purifying the room, but is toxic when consumed.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) purifies the home, filters toxins like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene, and has a soothing remedy for burns and scrapes. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) helps prevent spider mites, making them good for the health of other plants and works to purify the air.
Flamingo Lilies (Anthurium andraeanum) are effective at removing airborne formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and xylene from your home or office. Dracaena are excellent air purifiers, helping remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon dioxide.
In a small study, it was found that people who studied with real plants in the classroom performed better than those who had no plants at all or fake plants. The Weeping Fig (Ficus) can improve the air quality in your home, reduce your chances of getting sick, and help with clarity and creativity.
The rubber tree helps purify the air and is also believed to help with the reduction of allergies, is a natural anti-inflammatory, a natural analgesic, and promotes stomach health. A 2002 review of the research shows that people who were recovering from surgeries needed less pain medicine and had shorter stays at the hospital when they were exposed to plants and greenery during their recuperation.
In conclusion, indoor plants offer broad health perks, including hygiene improvement, mental and emotional benefits, and enhanced physical comfort beyond just cleaning air and reducing stress. These benefits make them valuable additions to workplaces, homes, and healthcare settings.
- The Boston fern and English Ivy (Hedera helix) not only purify the air but also offer health benefits such as reducing swelling, preventing intoxication, and alleviating asthma symptoms.
- indoor plants like Gerbera daisies and Pineapple Plants enhance mental well-being by promoting calmness, improving mood, and enhancing mindfulness.
- Some plants, such as the Areca palm, help alleviate dryness in airways and skin by raising indoor humidity, especially in dry environments.
- Certain plants like Basil are linked to boosting immunity through their aromatic and therapeutic properties.
- Culturally significant plants like Tulsi and Eucalyptus are believed to bring positive energy, improve spiritual well-being, and enhance mental clarity through their aroma and presence.
- Beyond being air purifiers, indoor plants like Aloe Vera and Rubber Tree offer various health benefits such as reducing allergies, being natural anti-inflammatory, and promoting stomach health.
