Air pollution is the root cause of several diseases these days. The pollution has not only affected the outdoor air, but also the indoor oxygen, which leads to several side-effects causing sickness. The indoor air pollution, mainly happens due to elements like Formaldehyde, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), are the main chemicals, which are the basic reasons polluting your home.
Air pollution can also affect your house with drastic speed due to reasons like spray paint, chemicals discharging from your carpets, insulation materials, sealants, wood floor finishes, wire coatings, and much more. Hence we will discuss here some best indoor plants.
Some Basic Reasons for Air Pollution at Home
Apart from Formaldehyde, PCB and asbestos, there are a few more reasons for air pollution in your home. Here are a few more you need to know to keep your home clean and hygienic.
- Have you ever checked the bedrock at your home! Yes, the bedrock beneath the home or the building materials come with radon, which is quite harmful for the health of the people living in it.
- Another commonly found pollution is the smoke that comes from the pipe, cigar or cigarette, which comes with tobacco elements. This environmental tobacco smoke when inhaled can lead to serious problems.
- Bacteria, viruses, mold, animal dander, mildew, cockroaches, dust mites, pollen, etc. are biological chemicals, that develop in damps or other warm corners nearby the house.
- Having fireplaces, gas stoves, gas space heaters, etc. at your place can also be harmful to the purified air of your house. All these equipment release gases like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other similar particles, which are also harmful when inhaled.
- Household products like hobby products, paints, varnishes, and other cleaning products are filled with organic chemicals. All these products release elements when used or stored that are harmful leading to sickness.
- The use of pesticides at houses has also proven to be harmful. When they are exposed to the air, they mix with the fresh air and pollute it leading to air pollution.
Generally, ventilation is the prime choice of people to deal with all this kind of air pollution. Ventilation removes the harmful air containing polluted particles and adds fresh air to your surrounding giving you a healthy contiguous.
Air Purifying Plants – A Natural Way to Deal With Air Pollution
There are several house plants that help in the purification of the indoor air, by absorbing the dangerous toxins, which are walled in the spaces near the air flow. There are plants that work as air purifiers, boost the mood and the productivity, helps in concentrating, increases the memory, reduces stress, fights against fatigue, etc. It also has some therapeutic benefits also.
There are some best indoor plants that help in the purification of the home, while there are some, which are helpful in getting rid of the chemical objects like ovens, carpets, glues, cleaning solutions, synthetic materials, etc. Hence, including plants in the décor of your house would surely benefit your health, giving your house a lively appearance.
Health Benefits of Indoor Plants
Household plants were introduced by the Greeks and the Romans, who brought plants to their house for decoration purpose. After that, the Victorians got attracted towards the pottery and brought the houseplants. Hence, since several times, household plants are brought at homes, however, very few know the best indoor plants related to it.
Here are some health benefits of these best indoor plants one must know while selecting a plant.
1. Helpful In Breathing Pure Oxygen
As everyone knows, the intake of air brings oxygen to the body, while through exhale, we release carbon dioxide. The plants carry the opposite process when they are in the photosynthesis process. They absorb the carbon dioxide exhaled by the people and give out oxygen. Thus, the plants help in increasing the oxygen level in the surrounding areas.
Another interesting point is that plants at night, inhale oxygen, and release carbon dioxide. However, there are some special plants, that carry the same process of inhaling and exhale that is carried during photosynthesis process. Such plants can be used to decorate the bedrooms to increase the level of oxygen at night.
2. Help In The Prevention Against Sickness
There are some best indoor plants that carry a feature to increase humidity at home. The roots of the plant absorb the water, which evaporates through the leaves, this process is known as transpiration. This process helps in keeping the surrounding atmosphere of the rooms or bedrooms moist during dry or arid climate. This helps in decreasing the chances of sickness like dry skin, sore throats, cold, dry coughs, etc. This also decreases the transmission of viral illness like flu virus.
3. Purification Of The Air
When it comes to the best indoor plants, all the parts of the plant are helpful in the purification of the air. Not only the plant, the roots and the leaves also play a vital role in removing the chemical toxins in the plant. They lower the chemical levels of carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the indoor environments. They produce fresh oxygen by inhaling carbon dioxide, and nourish the body.
4. Work As A Healing Medicine
Have you ever noticed why people carry flowers while visiting any patient at the hospital! Yes, this is true that the plants are effective for having a quick recovery from surgeries. The studies have proved that merely having a look at the indoor plants is effective enough to show improvement in your health by lowering the blood pressure, lessening the pain, dealing with anxiety and fatigue, and much more. Hence, the patient who is in contact with the natural healers show quick recovery after the medical treatments.
5. Improve Your Work
The indoor plants are beneficial for both the workers and the students. The best indoor plants help in improving your concentration on a particular work, boosts your memory and increase the productivity. Students who study with mini household plants around them are surely going to score with good results, while those who work around it show amazing productivity with new creativity. Having ornamental plants at home or at workplace increases the accuracy in the work carried. Hence, it improves your quality and quantity of work or studies.
Top Best Indoor Plants Widely Seen at Houses
Here is a small list of best indoor plants, which would help in purifying the air from pollution and bad odors, giving you pure atmosphere.
1. Rosemary
This multi-purpose herb is beneficial in several ways. It is not only used as an air purifier, but also used for cooking, mostly for making herbal tea. The evergreen plant come with a needle look, which is beneficial during the winters, leaving a lovely aroma in its surrounding area. The plant is an efficient purifier for the humid winters, as they breathe carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Rosemary as an herb is also helpful in improving the cerebral functioning and protecting the brain from the harmful free radicals. The presence of the plant in the room gives enough and long-term fragrance, which eliminates the usage of any kind of essential oil in the room.
2. Lavender
Lavender is an excellent insect repulsive. The fragrance of the plant is also beneficial in relaxing the lungs, aiding people suffering from insomnia for a calm sleep. In this way, lavender also helps in reducing anxiety. For people who are the habitat of lighting, aroma candles during the aromatherapy or for sleeping, lavender can prove to be the best supplement. Lavender can also be planted at home, as it easily gets cultivated in the small pots with the help of sufficient sunlight. However, before purchasing or planting the herb, it is better to know if anyone at your place is allergic to the smell or the plant, as it may prove to be harmful to them.
3. Basil
Basil is a popular plant or herb, which is widely cultivated in the Asian and North African countries. The plant grows easily in any kind of climate, and carries various uses also. Though the plant sheds off its leaves during autumn, it grows with equal speed when the grown again during winters. Basil is quite adaptable for its ironic aroma and the satisfying taste. It is used to make herbal tea and salads, as well as, to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the room. Basil also carries some healing benefits for sickness like cough and cold, fever, etc.
4. Mint
Love having a sip of herbal tea, including mint during the cold winters! Yes, mint is the best indoor plant, which comes with a variety of subspecies. The plant is used in various forms for cooking, baking, or for making aromatic perfumes, scented lamps, and much more. Having a mint plant at home is beneficial for the patients having lung disorders, as it makes the air easier to breathe for them. The mint plant attracts the small wasps, which are helpful in killing several parasites around or even killing their eggs on the leaves.
5. Jasmine
Jasmine is a unique household plant, which is generally used to decorate the dining area. Jasmine has a feature to open its flowers during the evening, which makes the room aromatic. People in India and China also use jasmine to make herbal tea to increase the taste of the tea, as well as, the aroma. Jasmine also carries some healing properties, but is widely used as an evening plant as an air purifier with a pleasurable fragrance.
6. Geranium
This aromatic plant comes in more than 200 varieties, all with amazing positive qualities. It carries a strong aroma, which is not tolerable by few people. The mosquito repellent plant also fails to attract several parasites. As a result, the plant remains evergreen and blooming. Geranium is easy to regrow, which also makes it a strong air purifier. Among the variety of geranium available, the rose geranium is quite helpful in making herbal tea, that is beneficial for the patients suffering from diabetes type 2, by controlling the glucose levels.
7. English Ivy
This outlandish plant is quite destructive if planted outdoors. However, when brought into the house, it works very well in reducing the effects of formaldehyde. The plant grows with a rapid speed, with the help of surrounding walls, decorating your house areas like balcony, porches, etc. The plant is easy to grow and is used widely for trimming purposes. It also controls the temperature of the living area, keeping your surrounding healthy.
8. Peace Lily
This seashell shaped plant is one of the few ones, which grow and flourish indoors. It is helpful in dealing with pollution particles like formaldehyde, benzene and VOCs that are generated due to the harsh chemicals used in cleaning the house. The plant is used in winters to keep the room moist and controlling the temperature during summers. Although the plant carries several good points, people having children and pets at home should be aware as the leaves of the plant can prove to be poisonous to them.
9. Boston Ferns
If you are looking for a plant that removes formaldehyde elements to the best, you are surely looking for Boston Ferns. Apart from this, the plant is an efficient herb to remove other indoor pollutants like xylene and benzene by migrating them outdoors. This persnickety plant is widely planted by the people whose houses are connected with the garages. You need to water the plant, according to the humidity in your home, or according to the moisture levels.
10. Woodbine
Also known as European Honeysuckle, this plant is widely used to decorate the houses with staircase inside. The semi-parasitic plant widely grows on the trunk of the trees, but can also be dwarfed to decorate the houses. You can simply grow the plant in a pot by putting a small wooden log in the center helping it to grow. The plant gives a sweet bouquet throughout the day, but at night the smell gets stronger.
Apart from all these best indoor plants, other household plants easy to cultivate at your home are coffee plant, palm trees, rubber plants, Janet Craigs, Golden Pathos, and many more. Normally, all the plants have their own unique whiff, which fills your living with a sweet and sensual perfume and also helps in purifying the air at a same time. However, before getting them at your place, it is better to check out if it would give any side-effects, or give some allergic reactions for safety purpose.
So, next time you think to decorate your house in a unique style, get some of the best indoor plants of your favorite aroma, and go natural.
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