Last Updated on September 17, 2021 by Kimberly Crawford
Mental health is one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. Depression has become a very important buzzword to encapsulate a whole range of experiences from feeling sad, lonely, lack of motivation, feelings of emptiness, emotional numbness and others.
Nowadays, we cling too much on the idea that because depression is projected as a sign of deeper psychological illnesses or statuses that we forget the elevating mood can be all natural.
A walk on the beach or a time for reflection in a tranquil can go a long way. If you are not the outgoing type, you can actually shift your attention to planting houseplants as one of the natural remedies to prevent depression. But how?
How do houseplants affect emotions?
Houseplants have this tendency to elevate mood levels and that is the reason why it is no longer a big secret to tap on houseplants to curb depressive thoughts.
As a matter of fact, international hospitals and health agencies have long announced that houseplants relieve depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. But how are they really affecting our emotions?
1. Houseplants help in the secretion of happy hormones.
Plants do not only give off oxygen for the purpose of breathing but also releases surges of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in the body. Dopamine and serotonin are responsible for making us feel better while the oxytocin is called the calming hormone because it gives the body a relaxing feeling.
2. Houseplants absorb toxins.
Houseplants also boost the quality of the oxygen we are getting at home and in our offices because they absorb air toxins. Without the toll of too much stress and negativity, we will feel lighter, more motivated, with sharper memory, increase in productivity, attentiveness and perception.
3. Growing houseplants increase self-satisfaction and self-worth.
Going through the process of growing the houseplant, being attentive to its growing requirements and generally going through all the maintenance processes, growth phase and all can give us an increased level of self-satisfaction and self-worth.
Having been able to grow the houseplant on your own can be a source of achievement to the one who had it grown.
10 best houseplants that could alleviate depression
So now that we have established how houseplants affect emotions, let us get to the meat of this article. Just to emphasize, houseplants in general are known to elevate moods but we are handpicking 10 of the most known and best houseplants that can do the job. So, here it is.
1. Boston Fern
It is an easy to grow houseplant that is known for being one of the best air purifiers. According to My Domaine, it can remove at least 1863 toxins per hour on a particular space.
It is recommended that the Boston fern be put in office desks or the particularly the bedroom because it can give peace of mind.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a well-documented houseplant that is not only known for its medicinal and skin care use but also as a detoxifier which can absorb stress and toxins when in a room.
It traces back these established benefits in historical archives of the Egyptian civilization. It is recommended that the aloe vera be put in the bedroom.
Related: 31+ Different Types Of Aloe Plants With Pictures (Identification Guide)
3. Snake Plant
It is also called the mother-in-law’s tongue. It has white stripes and straight, upward leaves. In 1989, a NASA research found out that the snake plant is a good absorber of toxins and pollution so it really does give off a boost in the oxygen quality in the home which in turn could elevate mood. Put the snake plant in the bedroom or living room.
4. Lavender
This is already quite known since the lavender has long been extracted for tea and essential oils because of its calming and tranquilizing quality.
It relieves anxiety, stress, restlessness and even helps in regulating breathing and heart rate. As a houseplant, you can put it in the bedroom or in the spaces where you are doing your workouts or yoga/meditation.
Read also: Types of lavenders
5. Peace Lily
it is not really one of the variants of the Lily but it is one of the best purifiers of air. Among all others, it is a good purifier of benzene as well as ammonia. It offers a good night’s sleep.
6. Jasmine
Like lavender, jasmine is also known to boost mood and calm emotions. Jasmine in the bedroom will not only give you a sound sleep but also a calming fragrance.
7. Red-edge Dracaena
The dracaenas are known for their air-cleaning properties which is specifically helpful in promoting relaxation and alleviating stress.
8. Sago Palm
It is easy to care and grow and is a good purifier of air which is known to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and winter sadness. You can put it in the lanai or in the bedroom and see its effect.
9. Chrysanthemum
This is a natural relaxant as it improves air quality and is also used for tea. It also has a wide range of healing properties specifically for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and a lot more.
10. Gerbera daisy
It does not only gives relaxation because of its appearance but also as one of the best purifiers of air. It is said that it can relieve a space off of toxins and chemicals so it also helps in elevating mood.
