Houseplants and their many health benefits. Hippocrates once famously declared- “Nature itself is the best physician.”, and centuries later, modern science is here to back him up. Here are some science backed benefits of having plants in your home and off

1. Your body heals faster.

The presence of greenery in your space encourages calmness, which aids in your body’s healing process. A study showed that the presence of plants and flowers in a patient's room accelerated those patients' recovery process, than those who did not include green foliage in their space. The habit of simply looking at the plants and practicing horticulture presents the patients an excellent outlet to relax and build calmness, which then allows the body’s natural immune system to work better. (Brethour 2007, Frank 2003, Friend 2008, Lohr 2000, Park, 2009, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Assn. 2009, Ulrich 1984)

2. They can help improve your relationship with your friends, peers and family.

Studies have shown that those who own and care for
plants tend to be more empathetic. Those who care for plants build compassion as they bond and nurture their own green collection, and the built up compassion then directly spills over onto the plant carer’s personal habits. (Brethour 2007, Etcoff 2007, Frank 2003, Hagen 2009, Haviland-Jones 2005, Pohmer 2008, Rappe 2005)

3. They can help you produce accurate work results. 

The calming effect of greenery can help you concentrate better, which can help
generate more accurate results. The green foliage helps create a sense of calmness, promoting a positive work environment, which then influences the plant parents to concentrate and produce better work results. They aren’t kidding when they say “get some air, it’ll help you think better!”, the next benefits goes hand-in-hand with this benefit.(Bisco Werner 1996; Brethour 2007; Frank 2003; Pohmer 2008; Serwach 2008; Shibata, 2001, 2004; Yannick 2009)

4. They filter your space for better air quality.

A study performed in 1973 by NASA, volatile compounds that could make humans sick
were placed in a controlled room, prior to introducing the houseplants- those who entered the room experienced physical discomfort and burning eyes; however, by adding the houseplants to the controlled space, the plants had successfully purified the air around them, removing the harmful toxins in the air and eliminating any physical symptoms. If you’re interested in reading about the research- click here!