Go green in your bedroom
They may look pretty in our garden but scientists maintain that we can reap plenty of health benefits of plants by bringing them indoors.
Scientists suggest adding some greenery - like Aloe Vera (pictured) - to your bedside table to boost your sleep and health
While experts have long preached the benefits of house plants, scientists are now saying that popping some greenery on your bedside table can boost your sleep and health.
The presence of plants reduces stress, anxiety and helps with the removal of airborne pollutants.Elle Decor and The Joy of Plants delved into research from NASA and the American College to determine which houseplants are best suited to your bedroom – and the benefits they provide.
Areca Palm: Madagascan areca palm leads the way in efficiency at ‘mopping up’ pollutants.Researchers say that the palm is brilliant for anyone prone to colds and sinus problems because it releases moisture into the air. This, in turn, makes it much easier to breathe so will help you nod off quicker.
Madagascan areca palm is one of the best houseplants when it comes to ‘mopping up’ pollutants.
Aloe Vera: Easy to keep and aesthetically pleasing in any home, the aloe vera plant has been named as one of the best plants for air purification by NASA.
Why? It releases oxygen continuously throughout the night, making it an ideal bedroom addition. It also fights benzene (which is found in detergents and plastics) and formaldehyde (in varnishes and floor finishes) so helps keep the air super pure.
English Ivy: More commonly associated with Christmas, the ivy that grows up your house is actually perfect for your bedroom.
Indeed, researchers at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that English ivy in particular removes 78 per cent of airborne mould in just 12 hours.
| Other benefits of house plants City dwellers today spend an average 90 per cent of their time indoors – but experts from the Royal Horticultural Society say that ‘bringing the outdoors inside’ can offer some of the benefits that are lost by retreating indoors. Plants reduce stress levels, improve mood and filter polluted air, they say. A review of the scientific evidence suggests that workers are more productive when their office is filled with greenery, and hospital patients even tolerate pain better if there is a plant in the ward. Perhaps most importantly, plants also trap and filter pollutants that are linked to thousands of deaths a year. Writing in the The Plantsman horticultural journal, the scientists said: ‘Indoor plants can also elicit a number of physical health benefits, including the removal of airborne pollutants, both particulate and gaseous, which lead to better indoor air quality and associated improvements in physical health.’ The RHS scientists said that plants can also improve mental facilities – including reaction time and concentration. They pointed to a Washington State University study which found that the presence of plants in the room increased speed of reaction in a computer task by 12 per cent. And a Kansas State University in 2008 found that hospital patients treated with plants in the room required lower levels of painkillers.
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