According to a scientific report on Nature.com spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being.
However, with busy lives and increasing demands on us it is not always possible to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. This is why it is even more important to bring the outside in to both our homes and workspaces.
From a Feng Shui point of view, I would suggest that bringing plants indoors will enliven and invigorate those living or working in the building, and there is now research to support this idea.
During the day plants absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen - research has shown that increasing the oxygen supply can have very beneficial effects on our physiology and brain function. If your home or workplace has large rooms you will need larger plants to make any real impact.
Man made products found in our homes and workplaces such as nylon, laminates, plastics etc give off positive ions - which is a misnomer as they absolutely don't have a positive effect on us. Plants, however, give off negative ions which are very good for us - this is the quality in the atmosphere by a river, sea or forest that freshens the air and makes us feel really alive and vital. Plants are essential in homes or workplaces that have lots of electronic equipment or other synthetic items that can make us feel sluggish and generally under the weather.
Plants literally eat noxious gases for breakfast, research from NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) has found that certain plants have a purifying effect on the atmosphere by extracting fumes from chemical cleaners, radon gas and cigarette fumes to name a few. Typically new carpets and other furnishings will have been treated with chemicals to make them fire retardent.
Photocopiers and printers etc exude other noxious gases, the new Scientist published research in 2000 to show that when ozone from copiers mixes with other airborne gases commonly found in offices the result is a thirty per cent reduction in the breathing capacity of rats.
So, apart from looking pretty and bringing nature indoors which plants make the biggest difference to our living / working space?
Spider plants (Chlorophytum Elatum Variegatum) are very hard working, they can absorb smoke fumes and radon gas (radon gas presents a cancer risk and is linked to buildings made of granite).
Azaleas, rubber plants, tulips and bamboo plants can all absorb formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is found in virtually all indoor environments - in urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and particle board or wood pressed products used in making office furniture. It is used in paper products treated with UF resins such as waxed paper, facial tissues and paper towels.
The Areca palm absorbs toluene which is emitted from nail varnish among other things.
The 'Monstrosus' cacti (Cerius Peruvianus) despite being a spiky plant and so not normally favoured in Feng Shui will netralise VDU emissions.
The Lady Palm absorbs ammonia.
I love the natural beauty plants can bring into a home or workspace, but knowing they also provide a multitude of health giving benefits, such as oxygenating, ionising and cleansing the atmosphere, for me, gives them superpowers.
Karen x
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