Put down the prescription medication because all you need to reduce anxiety and boost your mental health are some houseplants for anxiety and overall mental health and wellness I preach about the natural elements of the earth quite a bit in terms of natural anxiety treatment, and that’s because some of the best anxiety help comes straight from nature and being around nature! Like a walk in the forest? It’s scientifically proven to help anxiety. Gardening for mental health? It’s a thing! Even the soil in houseplants trigger a release of serotonin. Needless to say, it is time to bring some nature into your space for an extra dose of anxiety relief and overall mental health and wellbeing.
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Using houseplants for anxiety and overall mental health
Plants have a remarkable impact on our senses, from their pleasing appearance to their invigorating fragrances and their soft textures. But have you ever wondered why they have such a positive influence on us? Recent research has explored the various ways in which houseplants can enhance our psychological and physical wellbeing. Let’s take a closer look at these findings and discover the incredible benefits of using houseplants for anxiety, depression and overall mental health and wellness.
Plants Increase Air Quality
The benefits of plants on mental health has a lot to do with the fact that many houseplants for anxiety and mental health promote better air quality. They filter the air and improve the quality of air, and the better the air is that you’re breathing, the better your mind and body are able to function.
Just think about how you feel after spending a couple of hours out in nature. You feel great and that’s because of the fresh air and natural healing properties that come from the great outdoors. On the contrary, if you work inside or spend long hours in your home, you’re constantly breathing in indoor toxins, which are known to negatively impact mental health. This is even worse for you during the winter months when your windows and doors are tightly closed (hello, seasonal depression!)
Plants Reduce Stress
According to several studies, having plants in your home or office can have a soothing and comforting effect on your mind and body. The study involved participants who were asked to complete two tasks: repotting a houseplant and a short computer-based task. After each task, the researchers measured their stress response by monitoring their heart rate and blood pressure. The study found that the indoor gardening task reduced stress levels in the participants, while the computer task caused a spike in heart rate and blood pressure. The study concludes that working with plants can help reduce both physiological and psychological stress.
Plants Are Therapeutic
Indoor gardening has shown to be helpful for people experiencing symptoms of mental illness. According to researchers, horticultural therapy, engaging gardening and plant-based activities with a trained therapiscan, can increase feelings of well-being among people with depression, anxiety, dementia, and other conditions.
Simply being around indoor plants can enhance both our mental and physical health, according to studies. This is because houseplants can improve air quality, which is especially beneficial for those who spend most of their time indoors. Additionally, taking care of indoor plants can be a fulfilling hobby that allows for self-expression and learning new skills. So, not only do indoor plants look great, but they can also positively impact our overall mental health and well-being.
Additional benefits of using houseplants for anxiety, depression and mental health
Many studies have shown houseplants for anxiety have a plethora of powerful health benefits, such as:
- Improves reaction times
- Increases attentiveness
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves attendance
- Improves well-being
- Raises productivity
- Improves perception
- Reduces anxiety
- Decreases mild depression
- Increases self-satisfaction
- Lifts mood
Even the soil is said to contain a bacterium that triggers a release of serotonin.
So, let’s find out what the best stress relieving houseplants for anxiety relief and how you can use them to naturally treat mental illness.
Stress Relieving Houseplants with Powerful Anti-Anxiety Benefits
Prepare to turn your interior into an indoor greenhouse. Indoor plants have an abundance of stress relief benefits that bring all kinds of natural healing right into your home. Once you receive the powerful anti-anxiety benefits of plants, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without them. Here are the top indoor plants for anxiety and overall mental health.
Pothos Plants Are Great for Beginners
Pothos plants are not just cute and Instagram-worthy, they’re also air-purifying champions! They’re like the superheroes of the plant world, fighting off nasty air pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, while also helping to get rid of stinky odors.
But wait, there’s more! Did you know that Pothos plants can also help soothe your tired eyes after a long day of staring at screens? Yep, you heard that right! They’re like the natural, green equivalent of a spa day for your peepers. So, not only do they look amazing and add some green to your space, but they’re also helping you breathe better and feel better too.
Who knew plants could do all that, right? So, if you’re looking to spruce up your space and give your lungs (and eyes) a little love, a Pothos plant might just be the perfect addition to your home or office.
These plants are like the little engines that could – their vines grow long and fast with a single-minded focus. Talk about determination, right? And here’s a fun tip: try hanging your Pothos in a pot to symbolize reaching new heights and chasing your dreams. It’s like your own little reminder to never give up and keep pushing towards your goals.
Here are the benefits of having a Pothos plant in your home or office, in bullet points:
- Purifies the air by removing pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide
- Helps eliminate odors
- Can alleviate eye irritation after long days of staring at screens
- Adds a touch of natural beauty to your space
- Easy to care for and low-maintenance
- Can be propagated easily to create more plants
- Can be grown in a variety of settings, including hanging baskets, pots, and trellises
- Studies suggest that interacting with plants can have positive effects on mental health and stress levels.
Succulents For Stress-Free Greenery
Did you know that keeping a succulent in your space can actually help you feel less stressed and more positive? It’s true! Scientific studies have shown that houseplants for anxiety, including succulents, can help reduce both psychological and physiological stress levels. In fact, a study conducted with young adults found that interacting with indoor plants can have a measurable impact on reducing stress and promoting feelings of calm.
So, if you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, a little succulent might be just what you need to help you relax and feel more positive. Not only are they cute and low-maintenance, but they can also have a real impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Plus, who doesn’t love having a little bit of nature indoors to brighten up their space?
Here are some additional benefits of succulents:
- Require minimal watering and maintenance, making them easy to care for
- Come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, making them attractive decorative plants
- Can be grown indoors or outdoors, depending on the species and the environment
- Able to tolerate harsh and dry conditions, making them ideal for drought-prone areas
- Produce oxygen and purify the air by absorbing toxins, improving the quality of the indoor air
- Can be propagated easily through cuttings, making them affordable and accessible to grow
- Can be used in various ways, including as medicinal plants, culinary ingredients, and ornamental displays
- Can help prevent soil erosion due to their deep root systems and ability to retain water
- Are known to have a calming effect and can help reduce stress and anxiety, providing mental health benefits
Peperomia Keep The Air Healthy
If you’re looking for houseplants for anxiety and mental health that is equally as magical, peperomia is it. These indoor plants are ideal for keeping the energy, air, and atmosphere in your home ideal for mental health. They reduce carbon dioxide levels, increase humidity, reduce certain pollutants, keep air temperatures down and reduce dust.
Peperomia also has a range of health benefits, such as soothing stomach aches, reducing inflammation of acne and boils through a topical tincture, boosting the healing process, providing pain relief, curing headaches, treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, aiding with kidney function, providing antifungal effects, and working as an antioxidant. Here’s a quick recap of the benefits:
- Has been used for centuries in Bolivia as a wound dressing to stop hemorrhage
- Has numerous medical benefits, including lower cholesterol levels and fewer infections
- Soothes stomach aches
- Reduces inflammation of acne and boils through a topical tincture
- Boosts the healing process
- Provides pain relief
- Cures headaches
- Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Aids with kidney function
- Provides antifungal effects
- Works as an antioxidant
Air Plants for Anxiety Relief
Certainly by now, you’re seeing a theme – easy stress relieving houseplants for anxiety. Air plants are definitely on the list of the best plants for anxiety relief, as these beautiful pieces of the earth are incredibly easy to take care of. After all, you just have to soak them in a cup of water once a week. As for the mental health benefits of air plants, they’re just as awesome. They’re super low-maintenance and help reduce carbon dioxide in the air while also removing chemical pollutants and adding oxygen back into the air to help you breathe better.
Bird’s Nest Fern Filter Out Toxins
The quality of air in our homes can have a significant impact on our mental health, and addressing this challenge can be crucial. Fortunately, ferns are a great solution as they work like a good humidifier and can help alleviate stress by adding moisture to the air and improving breathability. They filter formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air which, as you already know, is key to using plants to boost your mental health. Plus, ferns are beautiful plants that can add aesthetic value to any room when placed in hanging baskets or decorative pots making them the perfect houseplant for anxiety.
Here are the benefits of ferns:
- Enhance the aesthetics of indoor spaces
- Remove harmful air pollutants from the environment
- Improve indoor air quality
- Increase humidity levels naturally
- Restore moisture to the air
- Create a soothing effect
- Particularly useful for those living in dry climates or during winter months when heating systems can dry out the air
Philodendron Plants Remove Nasty Toxins
Grab some philodendron plants and place them in every 100 square feet of living space for maximum benefits. Philodendrons are known to enhance air quality in homes, making them a great addition to any indoor space. These plants, which are famous for their lush foliage and sprawling, veiny leaves, are not only aesthetically pleasing but also effective in absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful toxins from the air. The plant’s porous oxygenating leaves also help to brighten and freshen the room, creating a visually and atmospherically pleasing environment. In other words, they act as a vacuum, sucking out all the toxins in the air, particularly formaldehyde. So, this is one houseplant for anxiety that is a must!
Here are the benefits of Philodendrons:
- Enhance air quality in homes
- Absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful toxins from the air
- Lush foliage and sprawling, veiny leaves are aesthetically pleasing
- Porous oxygenating leaves help to brighten and freshen the room
- Create a visually and atmospherically pleasing environment
- Ideal for those who want to improve indoor air quality naturally and enjoy the beauty of foliage in their homes.
Calathea Plants are Super Air Purifiers
The calathea plant is an excellent houseplant for anxiety that purifies the air and generates fresh oxygen, making it a healthy addition to any indoor environment. The plant removes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, promoting a healthier environment for humans. Additionally, the calathea plant enhances the aesthetics of indoor spaces, providing a pleasant and charming look. The plant also helps remove toxins present in the form of dust, ensuring you and your plant breathe fresh air. For those with dry skin and respiratory issues due to low humidity levels, placing a calathea plant in your room can add moisture and alleviate these issues. These plants for mental health are also kid and pet-friendly, allowing you to place them anywhere without worrying about your loved ones’ safety.
Here are the benefits of Calathea plants:
- Purify indoor air and provide fresh oxygen
- Promote a healthier indoor environment by removing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen
- Enhance the aesthetics of indoor spaces
- Help remove toxins present in the form of dust, ensuring fresh air
- Add moisture to indoor air, making them helpful for those with dry skin and respiratory issues
- Kid and pet-friendly, making them a safe addition to any indoor space
ZZ Plants Remove Toxins
The ZZ plant is an excellent air-purifying indoor plant, capable of eliminating harmful toxins such as xylene, toluene, and benzene to a significant degree. It is an easy-to-care-for plant that can survive with minimal sunlight and is drought-resistant. This is mainly due to the presence of rhizomes in its roots that help store water. The plant can also reduce stress and have a positive impact on health. Interestingly, in some parts of Africa, the leaves of ZZ plants are used for medicinal purposes as they can cure earaches.
Here are the benefits of ZZ plants:
- Effective air-purifying properties that can eliminate harmful toxins such as xylene, toluene, and benzene
- Easy to care for and maintain, with the ability to survive in minimum sunlight and drought conditions due to the presence of water-storing rhizomes in its roots
- Reduces stress and has a positive impact on health
- In some parts of Africa, the leaves of ZZ plants are used for medicinal purposes to cure earaches.
Snake Plants Boost Good Vibes
The Snake plant is an excellent houseplant for anxiety that is known for its medicinal benefits, including its ability to remove indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene. It can also filter out impurities like xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ammonia. During the night, the plant can remove up to 87% of these harmful toxins. In addition to this, the snake plant is capable of reducing the level of nitrate ions present in the air.
The Snake Plant is also great for producing an abundance of oxygen, which can improve the mood and energy levels of those in the room, making it an excellent addition to any lifeless or stressful space. Caring for a plant like the Snake Plant has been shown to benefit one’s sense of self-love and give a sense of purpose, ultimately reducing anxiety and stress levels. Simply watching your plant grow or taking the time to water it can provide a temporary escape from the stresses of daily life.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Snake Plants can remove indoor air pollutants, such as formaldehyde and benzene, and filter out impurities like xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ammonia
- They can remove up to 87% of harmful toxins at night
- They can reduce the level of nitrate ions
- Growing a Snake Plant can improve the mood and energy levels of those in the room
- Caring for a plant like the Snake Plant can benefit one’s sense of self-love and give a sense of purpose, ultimately reducing anxiety and stress levels.
Money Plant Reduces Arguments and Anxiety
Money plants are also great air purifiers, removing harmful toxins such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air. They even continue to produce oxygen at night, making them ideal for bedrooms. Another benefit of money plants is their ability to clean aquarium water by absorbing nitrates from the water. This helps improve the quality of the water and makes for a nicer environment for fish.
Money plants can also have a positive effect on mental health. Studies have found that interacting with plants can reduce anxiety and stress, with the majority of subjects reporting feelings of comfort and soothing. Viewing a money plant for just 5 minutes has been found to encourage psychological and physiological relaxation among older adults.
While some benefits of money plants are based on science, others are based on symbolism and beliefs, such as Feng Shui. For example, Feng Shui experts suggest placing a money plant in front of a sharp corner or angle to reduce anxiety. Others believe this houseplant for anxiety can assist with preventing arguments and sleep disorders.
Parlor Palm Removes Anxiety-Causing Toxins
The parlor palm offers a multitude of benefits for mental health, from improving air quality to adding style to their living spaces. The plant boasts nine key benefits, including filtering indoor air, releasing oxygen, improving mental health, removing harmful toxins, creating humidity, being safe for pets, being effective against allergies, adding subtropical style, and requiring low maintenance.
Research studies have shown that parlor palms and other indoor palm varieties effectively remove carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from the air, creating clean air in the home. The plant also releases oxygen and removes toxins, resulting in improved mental health and increased productivity. Additionally, the parlor palm is effective in removing harmful particles such as formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the air, making it a valuable addition to any home.
The plant also releases water vapor, creating humidity in the home, which can promote better sleep and work performance while reducing the chances of viral infections. Furthermore, the parlor palm is safe for pets, unlike some of the other houseplants for anxiety, and can be beneficial for allergy sufferers, as it filters the air and humidifies the home, reducing the risk of allergic reactions.
The parlor palm also adds a touch of sophistication to any living space with its lush foliage and subtropical style, making it a popular choice. It also plant is low-maintenance and requires little care, making it an ideal choice for busy homeowners who want to enjoy the benefits of indoor plants without a lot of upkeep.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Filters indoor air
- Releases oxygen
- Improves mental health
- Removes harmful toxins
- Creates humidity
- Safe for pets
- Effective against allergies
- Adds subtropical, sophisticated style to your home
- Low maintenance
Aloe Vera Plant Promotes Natural Healing and Anxiety Relief
One of my favourite houseplants for anxiety is aloe vera because it’s nearly impossible to kill and it has so many useful healing properties. Aloe vera is commonly used as a herbal remedy, as it contains healthful plant compounds that are beneficial to the body. They can be used to treat all kinds of health concerns, such as burns, acne, digestive issues, inflammation and oral health, while also purifying the air drastically. With this stress relieving plant in your bedroom or around your home, you can eliminate worry and stress from your mind, body, and spirit simply by getting the breath of fresh air that it brings, right to your indoors.
Here are some benefits of aloe vera you can expect:
- Aloe vera has antioxidant and antibacterial properties that help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans.
- Aloe vera is an effective topical treatment for first and second-degree burns and may help heal other types of wounds.
- Aloe vera helps reduce dental plaque and canker sores.
- Aloe vera can help treat constipation.
- Topical aloe vera gel can slow aging of the skin and improve skin integrity, which could benefit dry skin conditions.
- Aloe vera may enhance insulin sensitivity and help improve blood sugar management.
If you’re looking for a simple and enjoyable way to boost your mental health, consider getting yourself a houseplant for anxiety and stress relief (or two, or three…). Not only do they add a pop of color and life to your living space, but they can also help you feel more calm, focused, and connected to nature. And who knows, with a little love and care, your houseplants may just become your new best friends!
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