24 May, 2010

The Benefits of Indoor Plants



When you think that we spend more than 80 percent of our lifetime indoors, whether it be at home or in the office, it is very important to consider the quality of our indoor environments.

We all want our homes and offices to reflect a neat, clean, beautiful setting to work or relax in, and indoor plants are great way to help achieve that goal. Their colours, shapes and textures all contribute to the look of your home or office.

What you may not know is that not only do indoor plants improve the aesthetics of your indoor spaces, they also have numerous amounts of health benefits, both psychological and physical!



Plants make you happy!
Your mood is very much reflective of your surroundings. Plants can liven up a dull space by adding much needed colour and vibrancy. They can make you feel more 'at home' by creating a cosy environment in which you can more happily live in.

Indoor plants can help you to feel more optimistic, and reduce feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety. It is said that hospital patients who have a garden view to look at out a window recover far more quickly that those who face a wall.

Plants in the office are a great way to improve morale among your colleagues. They help motivate employees by stimulating the brain. Some businesses who have placed several potted plants around their office have reported definite increases in productivity and creativity, and a significant reduction of stress among their staff.


Plants help you fight away colds and allergies!
It is understood that indoor plants can help you to fight sore throats, coughs, congestion, minor headaches, itchy skin, asthma and other symptoms related to colds, flu's and common allergies. They do this by maintaining appropriate humidity levels in your home and decreasing levels of dust.


Plants are your own personal bio-filtration system!
You may have heard of the term 'sick building syndrome' before, it relates to a combination of ailments associated with an occupants place of work or residence. These ailments are due to poor interior environments. Buildings with inadequate ventilation systems, air conditioners and heaters can actually make their occupants very ill. Poorly ventilated indoor spaces are susceptible to many forms of biological pollutants such as:
  • Mold
  • Bacteria
  • Fungi
  • Pollen
  • Dust
  • Mites
On top of that, new paints, carpets and furnishings are known to radiate volatile organic compounds (VOC's) that are toxic and can cause you harm. It is believed that sick building syndrome can make you feel nauseous, light headed and can be the cause of allergy symptoms and many neurotoxic health problems.

Another contributor of poor air quality can be gas stoves or ovens. Regular use of household gas appliances can create a build up of unwanted nitrogen oxides in your home.

The good news? Plants are a natural filtration system and have oxygen replenishing qualities! They actually absorb pollutants in the air and emit fresh oxygen - It is said that they absorb nasty toxins and pollutants in the air through their leaves and then transmit these toxins to the roots, where they are converted into nutrients for the plant.
By having plants in your home you can reduce the levels of these toxins and contaminants dramatically, leaving the air cleaner and fresher.


Cacti and your computer...
Some electronic devices, such as computers, televisions, video recorders and DVD/CD players emit small amounts of EMF radiation. Cacti are believed to be excellent absorbers of these emissions and can help ease minor headaches and reduce electromagnetic stress associated with EMF radiation. How it works is that the spines on a cactus apparently attract charged ions in the air and change ionisation levels of a room.
So it is a great idea to keep a cactus or two on your desk and definitely next to your computer!

For more information, visit www.fickleprickles.com.au

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