Can indoor plants improve your mental and physical health? Getting out into nature has been proven to benefit health [1]. But, if you don’t have easy access to green space, do houseplants offer a convenient alternative? In fact, not only do they keep you in touch with nature, but they also have many of the same benefits as pet-keeping [2] without as much commitment.
1. Houseplants improve your air quality – or do they?
This one does have a bit of myth attached. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and they increase humidity (a bit). More oxygen in the air you breathe allows more oxygen to reach your brain, allowing it to work more efficiently. It’s also good for your body, reducing blood pressure and speeding up healing. Humid air is more comfortable to breathe and it allows easier uptake of oxygen.
However, while it’s true that plants can filter certain toxins and pollutants from the air, they only have around 1% of the efficiency of an air purifier, so you’d probably need to completely pack all your available space with them to make a significant difference. (Cummings and Waring, 2020)
An extended version of this article, along with lots of other (previously unpublished) effective and practical advice is now included in our book, Anxiety to Calm: a practical guide to a laid back life which is available in paperback and Kindle.
