There are two types of people in this world....those with brown thumbs and those who hoard houseplants. I have been on both ends of that spectrum, but today proudly incorporate houseplants into my home (and advocate it for my holistic home clients).
That's because houseplants do so much for your health. Yes, aside from just adding that extra oomph to a room and design, they also help you and your home out....a lot. Curious to know more? Here are some of the ways in which adding houseplants can benefit your health.
Improve your Home's Air QualityÂ
Did you know your home's indoor air quality is 2-5x worse than outdoors? Yikes! And that's according to the EPA's website. Things like dust, chemicals, and bacteria can linger in your home's air causing you some serious health problems like respiratory issues and even cancers.
Thankfully, houseplants can help with that! The oxygen produced by plants can filter the mold spores, airborne microbes, and bacteria that lead to poor indoor air quality. There are even some plants that can also absorb harmful chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. NASA did a study that focused on how plants can absorb these and other chemicals in your home, thus improving your air quality.
A few plants that help remove these chemicals are the Peace Lily, Spider Plant, English Ivy, Boston Fern, Chinese Evergreen, Snake Plant, and Bamboo Palm.
Boosts your Mood
 There might be a reason as to why you're obsessed with houseplants and have 30+ in your home. Studies have shown that the relaxing affects plants have on reducing anxiety, depression, and boosting your overall mood. It's a way for you to bring more of nature and its positive effects on mental health into your home.
Reduce EMFs
First off, what are EMFs? Electro Magnetic Frequencies (EMF) surround any sort of electronic device. These frequencies can be detrimental to our health, and can cause numerous health issues such as short term memory, insomnia, headaches, even cancer. The Institut Des Researches en Geobiologie at Chadonne in Switzerland carried out a two-year study of the affects plants had next to computer terminals in offices on New York’s Wall Street.
The results were that some plants reduced these cases of EMF caused headaches and tiredness among employees. The plants that showed most effective were Cereus Peruvianuf, the Spider Plant, and Peace Lily. Place these plants at electronic hubs in your home, such as your office or desk to reduce those EMFs.
Raises your Home's Energy
In the Chinese art of Feng Shui, houseplants help to improve the energy (or qi) of a room and home. Due to their own living energy, they bring this into a space. They can enhance the energy of a home or absorb too much extra energy, thus providing balance and harmony for your home and its flow of energy.
As far as a bit of home decor goes, houseplants are a holistic and healthy addition to any room or home. With all their benefits, permission granted to validate your love for having houseplants.
Your Holistic Home Helper,
Marissa