How Plants are Good for Our Mental Health
Research has shown there are many benefits to being in the presence of nature, keeping a few household plants, whether in a forest or having a small garden. According to an attending psychologist, one study showed that patients at a hospital who had plants in their rooms reported less pain, lower blood pressure, fatigue, and less anxiety than patients without plants in their rooms. Here, we will discuss mental health and plant interactions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/
She explains that cortisol, the stress hormone, lowers with plant interaction, lowering fatigue, irritability, and blood pressure.” She adds, “Gardening and caring for plants can help people turn away from negative thoughts or emotions. Therefore, studies have shown that plants and gardening aid in decreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression while increasing productivity and serotonin levels, the neurotransmitter responsible for an uplifting mood.
A Way to Stay Grounded
Our lives are busy and largely sedentary, with much time spent behind screens. Weill suggests that raising plants can be an opportunity to practice true presence in the here and now, focusing on something pleasant and worthwhile as it’s right under your nose. “Rather than thinking about the past and worrying about the future, plant care helps one focus on the present moment and provides a feeling of accomplishment,” she says. A social worker specializing in stress, coping, and behavioral issues who also identifies as an avid gardener refers to this process as “grounding.
He explains: “Grounding is a mental health and spiritual practice that supports individuals’ senses of connectedness—a sense of purpose, direction, or place in the world. Start a garden, take care of a single potted plant, or admire trees indoors and outdoors. He adds that as he experiences grounding, changes occur in his body. “When we’re grounded, our hearts slow down, and our breaths fill up,” he says. “When you get more oxygen, your muscles can relax.”https://fusionwords.com/how-do-plants-provide-improvement-for-sleep-disorders/
How Do Plants Help Us Connect?
He has seen the positive effects of “community gardening” on mood, motivation, energy, sociability, knowledge, collaboration, creativity, self-confidence, and the desire to support others. Plants can engage multiple senses—seeing, smelling, and touching—in meaningful experiences, so they can help people relax and calm down while inspiring creativity. Gardening and plant care are not panaceas.
Owning a plant does not directly or indirectly affect mental health processes. Maintaining mental health that exposes individuals to positive thoughts and emotions is just one piece of the puzzle.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/houseplants-nature-mental-health-greenery-cognition/
How many plants do you need?
If you’re thinking about how many plants you need to get a benefit, it’s not how many plants you have; it’s “plant interaction.” One asks the question: Is it common to see? Is it in place? “Is it prosperous?”
If you’re short on space or unsure if you’re ready to be a full-fledged plant parent, starting with a large number of plants can be overwhelming. Just one plant can make a difference. They can mesmerize you with their scents and colors and create a positive mood response with every interaction.
Be ready for the learning curve
Like any new skill or hobby, caring for houseplants and tending a garden comes with a learning curve. Please show me a little mercy. “We don’t have to be good at everything.” It takes time, energy, and investment to learn what your plants need: sunlight, soil preference, moisture levels, and proper potting techniques.
Learn the basics, be patient, and allow a little trial and error. Start with one plant and make its care a part of your daily routine, like brewing coffee or brushing your teeth. Horticultural consultants liken caring for plants to a date. “You got some new plants, but you don’t know much about them.” In the coming weeks, you’ll learn more about them, get to know them, and know how to treat them.
Sometimes, it works because your adaptability adapts to their needs, but some plants don’t because you haven’t figured out how to make them happy. Few are expensive. So what do these experts recommend as the best plants to bring harmony into your home?
Here, We Suggest The Eight Best Plants For Mental Health
Snake Plants
If you’re new to plant parenting, it’s best to start with simple, no-frills plants. (It survives even if you forget to water it sometimes.)It is a snake plant with dark green, sword-shaped leaves and mustard yellow or white stripes. Snake plants, also known as “mother-in-law’s tongues,” are great starting plants.
They’re very easy to care for, grow in dimly lit rooms, are visually appealing, and filter the air. They will cook quickly in the sun without dying and are drought-tolerant if you forget to water them, making them a great choice for new gardeners. These plants are great for building confidence in your plant-care skills.
Spider plant
It is with light green leaves, and lots of leaves are another low-maintenance option. It behaves best with light. Some people place spider plants in their bathrooms for a warm and cozy feeling. Transform your relaxing bath into a more comfortable space. As the spider plant thrives, it will grow new cuttings that can be cut and potted as new plants. If you want plants, this is the right choice!
Aloe
Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, aloe vera can be a novice plant owner’s dream due to its tolerant and adaptable nature. It makes a healing gel that you can use directly, and it’s a good idea to keep some aloe vera in your home as it helps detoxify the space, helps with burns, cuts, and abrasions, heals injuries faster, and helps to lessen pain. This also helps soothe sunburn.
Pothos
It is an adaptable plan with yellow-green, oval, heart-shaped, waxy leaves. “They can exist in many different ways, as they can grow downwards on hanging vines or hanging from pots, climb, or grow upwards supported by a trellis.” It’s easy to grow, filters the air, and looks great even when it falls off bookshelves and shelves. If you want to start a hobby planting without spending a fortune, pothos are easy to breed. Slang for the ability to take a cutting of a plant and grow a new plant.
Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful herb that attracts many pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Also known for its relaxing scent, lavender is “soothing,” reduces stress, promotes sleep, and has anti-inflammatory properties when used topically on the skin. I mean, it’s great even when dried in a bowl (or sprinkled in a tub).
Basil
The experience of growing, picking, and using herbs in your garden has positive effects on your mental health and creates positive sensory experiences and a sense of accomplishment. (It’s also a staple in homemade margarita pizza and pesto.) Not only is it delicious in your diet, but you can also expect health benefits from eating basil. Due to its human-friendly properties, it helps reduce stress and anxiety. The leaves are used for many purposes and act as adaptogens, which are natural substances that help the body adapt to stress. It can improve mental clarity.
Lemon balm
“A fragrant green herb belonging to the mint family, it is easy to grow.” Known for their calming properties, the leaves have a slightly citrus scent that intensifies beautifully when rubbed between the fingers. improves sleep, reduces stress and anxiety, improves appetite, and treats indigestion. Lemon balm is widely consumed as a tea and is also used in beauty products such as lotions. The herb is versatile and energizes the area in which it is grown.
Herbs can be used to refresh a room in a bouquet, in tea, and, of course, in the next meal. Herbs don’t need much and can be placed by a sunny window (ideally 4-6 hours of sunbathing) or outdoors. We can grow it as a potted plant.
Green mint
A hardy herb, spearmint is a fast-growing member of the mint family. “It’s amazing how the smell of the leaves can instantly calm the mind without brewing a cup of tea.”
FAQs
- How do plants promote mental health?
Studies show that plants and gardening can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase productivity, and increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in elevating mood. It has been shown to boost levels. It can also help people relax and calm down while stimulating creativity.
2. How many plants do you need to reap the mental health benefits?
It’s not about how many plants you have; it’s about “plant interactions.” The question to be asked is whether plants are widespread and thriving. What are some low-maintenance plants for beginners? Snake plants, spider plants, and aloe vera are all low-maintenance and great for beginners.
3. How does plant care help you ground yourself and be present in the moment?
can be an opportunity to focus on; it helps you focus on the present moment and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Some people name this process “grounding.” This supports personal connection and a sense of place in the world.
4. Is caring for plants a mental health panacea?
No, owning a plant does not directly or indirectly affect mental health processes. Maintaining mental health that exposes individuals to positive thoughts and emotions is only part of the puzzle.
