Plants for your health

The most healthful plants for your office or home: Areca palms are good air filters—they need bright light (not necessarily direct) and moderate soil maintenance. Peppermint can increase alertness—it needs full or partial light and little care. Gardenia’s fragrance can improve emotional outlook—it requires direct light and moderate attention. English ivy absorbs volatile organic compounds—it needs indirect light and is easy to care for.

Can Plants Clean the Air in Your Home?
by Deborah Mitchell

Houseplants are great for decoration, but they serve an even more
important purpose. They help clean the air you breathe.

During the early 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) discovered that the air inside Sky Lab 3 was
contaminated with more than 100 toxic substances.

NASA needed a way to ensure clean air in its spacecraft. So they put
environmental engineer Bill Wolverton, PhD, to the task. After much
research, he found a simple, natural answer: plants.

Dr. Wolverton knew that plants recycle oxygen, so he placed different
plants in sealed chambers into which he injected common indoor air
pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, to
see if the plants would break down the toxins. He didn't have to wait
long. Within 24 hours, Boston fern, dracaena, Ficus benjamina (rubber
plant), and chrysanthemum eliminated up to 90% of the poisons in the
chambers.

Why Indoor Air May be Harmful
Around the same time, Americans began making office buildings and
homes more energy efficient. In many cases, windows in office and
public buildings were designed to be permanently closed, and air
systems were installed to filter and recirculate the air. In
addition, builders began using more synthetic materials, which
contain potentially toxic chemicals.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are
toxic substances lurking in the air in modern offices and homes.
These substances, known as volatile organic compounds, are in
building materials and furniture composed of or treated with
synthetic materials. These toxins are emitted into the air by the
materials and can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness,
heart palpitations, blurred vision, and eye and throat irritation. In
addition, VOCs have been linked to multiple chemical sensitivity
syndrome

Which Plants Work Best?
Dozens of plants are effective at removing pollutants from indoor
air. The plants absorb the chemicals through tiny holes in their
leaves, and bacteria in the roots break down the pollutants, which
are then used by the plant as food. Not only are plants excellent
recyclers, but they also get better with time.

"The longer a plant is exposed to certain chemicals, the more
effective it becomes at removing them," says Dr. Wolverton.

Below is a list of the most effective plants for removing common
indoor air pollutants, such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide,
benzene, and trichloroethylene. Plants in the palm family are the
best at removing volatile organic compounds from indoor air,
according to Dr. Wolverton.

Bamboo palm
Chinese evergreen
English ivy
Chrysanthemum
Corn plant (a type of Dracaena)
Diffenbachia
Mother-in-law's tongue
Janet Craig (a type of Dracaena)
Peace lily
Marginata (a type of Dracaena)
Spider plant
Warneckii (a type of Dracaena)
Golden pothos
Wandering Jew
Rubber plant

Two potted plants per 100 square feet of floor space will help clean
and freshen the air in a home. Dr. Wolverton suggests placing a plant
within your "personal breathing zone" a space six to eight cubic feet
around where you work at your computer, watch television, or sleep.
Placing several inches of aquarium gravel over the soil in the plant
container will help prevent the formation of mold, a common allergen.

Plants Only Part of the Picture
Although the experiments of Dr. Wolverton and other scientists
indicate that plants can remove contaminants from indoor air, the EPA
notes that most research to date has used only small chambers.
Therefore, the results cannot necessarily be applied to large offices
and entire homes. The EPA maintains that the ability of plants to
improve indoor air quality is limited compared with the effectiveness
of proper ventilation.

RESOURCES:

Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov

Kilburn KH. Indoor air effects

THE POWER OF THE FLOWER
By Dr. David Eifrig Jr.

Flowers…are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities in the world.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I love fresh flowers. Flowers (and babies) are nature’s way of saying that life will go on. No shopping list worth its salt (Epsom, of course) would be complete without flowers. It’s true… a simple, strategically placed arrangement of an inexpensive seasonal assortment is one of the easiest ways to lift your spirits and lighten your mood. Point in fact; months ago I attended a dinner party at a friend’s house where the food was excellent and the company superb. But guess what comes to mind when I recall that evening: a beautiful bunch of vibrant yellow tulips, casually placed in a simple, white ceramic pitcher.

The hostess had picked up the vase several years ago at a roadside stand (turns out it was cracked even then) and the bright color and clean lines of the tulips fashioned feelings of joy in my heart… the vase could have been an aluminum juice can and been no less beautiful. The simple gesture of those beautiful flowers seemed to make the room warmer. There is something about looking at spring flowers (especially in the dead of winter) that reminds us that "this too shall pass" and gives us that extra little nudge to look forward to the future. This is perhaps the reason flowers have been shown to improve depression in people.

In fact, the "health" value of flowers is not simply my opinion. Several interesting and many quite obvious studies show the power of the flower. In Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, the author, Dr. Andrew Weil, recommends purchasing flowers regularly to reduce stress and bring beauty into your everyday life. Furthermore, scientific evidence has shown that receiving (perhaps even the act of purchasing) flowers lifts our moods. An article published in Evolutionary Psychology reported the results of three studies showing the positive effects of flowers. In the first study, researchers documented that women smile virtually every time they receive flowers. The second study reported that women and men smiled genuinely and initiated conversation when given a large Gerber daisy versus a pen or nothing. The final study reported that men and women ages 55 or older who received one or more bouquets of flowers over a two-week period showed an improvement in mood as well as an improvement in cognitive function-memory.

The conclusions are clear… cultivated flowers bring out positive emotions in humans. And with positive emotions comes health and longevity. Flowers are another simple and inexpensive choice for you to improve yours and your loved ones’ happiness and health.

But the power of flowers doesn’t stop with just psychological improvements. Chinese researchers have shown that extracts from the beautiful hibiscus lowers blood pressure and even cholesterol. It turns out that chemicals in the flower are similar to the antioxidants in red wine… the poly-phenols and anthocyanins that are known to improve heart health in wine drinkers. However, things are not always rosy (excuse the pun). For example, other compounds in the hibiscus disrupt ovulation in rats and their cells. These chemicals, benzenes, are already known to be problematic in humans and, of course, more research is needed. But the point is that flowers hold power for our health and future. Drug companies are hot on the scent (that pun stunk) for new chemicals, and flowers are one big area of interest.

When it comes to getting smiles on faces and having people relax from the stress of life… it’s hard to beat flowers. Flowers (both the sight of them and the extracts taken) have been shown to:

Improve sleep (Lavender)
Decrease anxiety (Lavender)
Decrease depression (Rose)
Increase energy (the sight of almost any flower)
Decrease cholesterol (Hibiscus)
Lower blood pressure (Hawthorn)
Improve resistance to colds (Echinacea)

When it comes to flowers… what do I do

1.	I have been learning to garden the past five years.
2.	I’ve planted more than 4,000 bulbs in my yard in the past two years.
3.	I cut flowers from my yard and bring them to the clinic. Some go to the secretaries, and some go to the front desk staff (these are put on display out front).
4.	I stop and look at flowers in other yards whenever I can. The older I get, the more I admire the work, thought, and energy it takes to produce flowers.
5.	I always, always, always stop and smell roses.
6.	At least monthly (I try to do it more often), I give flowers to my gal.

Here’s to our health,

David Eifrig Jr., M.D., M.B.A.

P.S. And another quote from Emerson… "Earth laughs in flowers."

Plants for Health

Get Healthy, Get Happy, Get Houseplants
Houseplants not only look beautiful - research shows that they greatly improve your health and wellbeing too!

For centuries the Chinese have used houseplants to create "living energy" in their homes and workplaces. Scientific studies prove that houseplants are good for you - physically, emotionally and psychologically, they are proven to:-

Remove harmful chemicals from the air, such as those in paints and varnishes, new carpets and MDF furniture
Absorb noise and lessen dust in the home
Help hospital patients recover faster, and with less medication
Lower blood pressure, help concentration and improve memory
Promote feelings of relaxation, calm and well-being
Make rooms look cared for and welcoming

Plants for Health

Get Healthy, Get Happy, Get Houseplants

Houseplants not only look beautiful - research shows that they greatly improve your health and wellbeing too!

For centuries the Chinese have used houseplants to create "living energy" in their homes and workplaces. Scientific studies prove that houseplants are good for you - physically, emotionally and psychologically, they are proven to:-

Remove harmful chemicals from the air, such as those in paints and varnishes, new carpets and MDF furniture
Absorb noise and lessen dust in the home
Help hospital patients recover faster, and with less medication
Lower blood pressure, help concentration and improve memory
Promote feelings of relaxation, calm and well-being
Make rooms look cared for and welcoming
Stressbusting Plants

Indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats, and other cold related illnesses by more than 30%. Extensive research already shows that houseplants alleviate stress, help us relax, and increase our general wellbeing. This study aimed to discover how far houseplants could benefit our physical and psychological health.

Office staff, working in offices 10m2, were questioned on their health, particularly symptoms related to spending a lot of time indoors and being under stress. After two months without plants, a range of houseplants were placed in half the offices. After a year, the plants were swapped to those offices with no plants in. After another year all staff were questioned on what effect the plants hah had on their health and well being.

Professional contractors looked after the plants, so any benefits to the office staff were from looking at the plants and the plants' effect on the atmosphere and air quality, rather than from nurturing them.

The results show when staff had plants in their offices, there was a significant drop of around 25% in tiredness, coughing, sore throats and cold related illnesses. Eight out of ten stated that "I feel good when there are plants in the office". Eight out of ten said "I would like to have more plants in my office in the future"

Adapted from research by Dr Tove Fjeld

Plants – Perfect Partners?

Our environment has changed dramatically in recent years, whereas we genetically have not. People spend a lot of time indoors at home or work, or in traffic away from green spaces. Air conditioning, improved insulation, and energy-saving measures all reduce air exchange, which can lead to health problems. We are breathing the same air over and over; but in cities and on busy roads, we are unlikely to want to bring 'fresh air' inside anyway. In addition, modern synthetic furnishings, computers and electrical equipment, and everyday household products such as cleaning material, emit various harmful gases in small quantities which all contribute to the recognised "sick building syndrome"

The simple addition of a few houseplants in your home or office can do a great deal to boost your health and well-being. Plants live in harmony with humans - we give plants carbon dioxide when we breathe out, and they give us oxygen through transpiration. Indoor plants boost oxygen levels and reduce air temperatures, as well as raising humidity, making it easier to breathe.

Whether in the home or workplace, placing a plant nearby will improve air quality, reduce temperatures and make people feel happier.

When living plants are present indoors:

Anxiety levels are lowered

People recover from mental tiredness faster
Interiors feel spacious, looked after and clean
People occupy rooms more when plants are there
People perceive interiors as "more expensive" looking

Cleaner Air

Formaldehyde from tissues, carpets and furniture can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. Houseplants remove formaldehyde from the air.A spider plant placed in a small enclosed space can remove 96% of the carbon monoxide from the air. Carbon monoxide is the toxic gas found in car exhaust fumes.

NASA space research, inside airtight space habitats, showed ordinary houseplants had amazing capabilities in fighting air pollution. In its test, in addition to formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, houseplants absorbed benzene (found in car exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke) and trichloroethylene (TCE) or dry-cleaning fluid. The most effective, apart from spider plants, are palms including lady palm (Raphis excelsa) and parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans), ficus, peace lily (Spathiphyllum), dragon tree (Dracaena); along with Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata), chrysanthemum and gerbera.

Click to View top 15 houseplants ranked by removal rates

Healthiest Houseplants

Some houseplants are 'healthier' than others. These plants also absorb potentially harmful chemicals from the air. These chemicals include those found in paints, varnishes and dry cleaning fluids; car exhaust fumes; and tobacco smoke. The plants themselves are not harmed in this absorption process, and providing they are looked after in the normal way, can continue to absorb chemicals as they continue to grow. All the plants listed here are comparatively easy to look after, particularly the chrysanthemums, ivy and dracaena.

All indoor plants benefit from a brightly lit position out of direct sunlight and draughts. The above plants appreciate a regular misting of lukewarm water to prevent drying leaftips, to clean the leaves and to keep the plants breathing well.

For more information on houseplants' abilities to absorb chemicals, the Wolverton Environmental Services website details NASA research carried out one this subject, to find out more click to:-