When choosing a house plant - do you consider its health benefits?

When you're choosing house plants, what is important to you?
 
Most people have size and aesthetic in mind when looking for a houseplant to add to their home or office. However, in addition to making sure the plant will fit on your desk or window sill, another factor to keep in mind is your health and well-being.
 
Adding plants to indoor spaces can improve air quality and create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Plants have the ability to filter out harmful toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, which are commonly found in household items like furniture and cleaning products. By absorbing these pollutants (which are commonly found in household items like furniture and cleaning products) through their leaves and roots, plants can significantly improve the overall air quality of a room.
 
Moreover, having plants indoors can also increase humidity levels. As plants release moisture through a process called transpiration, they naturally humidify the surrounding air. This can be particularly beneficial as it helps prevent dry skin, respiratory issues, and even reduces the risk of allergies.
 
Their vibrant colours and various shapes add visual interest and create a more inviting environment. Studies have shown that being surrounded by greenery can reduce stress levels and enhance productivity. The presence of plants has been linked to improved concentration and creativity.
 
There are several plant varieties that you can bring into a home or work that may offer a few of these benefits.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is well known for being the go-to treatment for skin irritation and sunburn, and while you typically see it added to lotions, you can also apply it directly to your skin to take full advantage of the plant's benefits. Once a leaf is large enough, you can cut it off the plant, slice it open, and scoop the gel out. Pure aloe vera is thick and gel-like.

Lavender

A lavender plant will undoubtedly be useful around the house due to its variety of uses. Keeping a few sprigs of the softly perfumed violet blossoms around your house are not only lovely to look at and breathe but if you keep them in your bedroom they can aid in falling asleep as well as helping to reduce anxiety and depression. These plants do require a little more TLC to keep them healthy, but if you are up for the challenge the benefits are well worth it.

Fern

Another excellent air filter to have about the house is the fern plant. A fern excels in removing airborne contaminants like plastic and smoke, which, once taken by the plant, are transformed into nutrients for development. It even helps with humidity levels by helping to restore moisture to the air too.

Spider Plant

The sprouting spider plant is an excellent choice for those who are new to caring for indoor plants because it is simple to maintain. The fact that it is one of the few house plants that is not poisonous to animals makes it a fantastic addition to homes for pet owners, while also assisting in the removal of toxins from the air.

Peace Lily

The peace lily's green leaves and pure white flower will not only make your house or office feel more peaceful, but it will also help in keeping it in excellent condition by filtering out harmful pollutants.  We have a peace lily in the Chester clinic, loving its home on the reception desk. Many of our patients comment on how lovely it is, and that’s another benefit of plants of course, they give us pleasure.

The plant is also effective at removing particulates from the air that may come from paints, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals used in the home or office.

The pleasure we gain from plants isn’t just from looking at them though, for many of us it’s the growing process.  We enjoy it when we create the right conditions for a plant to thrive. For example, Pauline and Anne are particularly pleased with how successful their repotting of the peace lily in Chester has been!  
 
Satisfaction at work is so important to us all.  When you benefit from a treatment and your health improves, it’s not just you that feels the benefit – your practitioner is pleased that their interventions have been beneficial to you too.  This holds true for all our therapists, our chiropractors, physiotherapist, osteopaths, acupuncturists, massage therapists and reflexologists.  They all benefit from the "job satisfaction" of treating you, their patient successfully.  
 
We hope that our thoughts on house plants prove useful to you next time you are wondering which plant to buy for your home.