Rooted in Wellness: The Profound Impact of Plants on Mind and Body
We are drawn to greenery: the bright grass of an open field, the swaying leaves on a tree’s branches, and even the potted plants inside a windowed home. It seems like greenery brings us comfort and makes us feel more at ease… but why? Perhaps it represents a healthy and fertile land, maybe it primes us to recall the warmth of summer, or maybe it connects us to nature by reminding us that there is so much more to the world than what the human race has created.
Through a variety of pathways, greenery and (in particular) plants have been proven to boost our health and wellness. For example, plants improve the air we breathe by filtering chemicals released by cleaning products and paint, and a plant’s soil has cleansing properties and can combat dangerous household and office pollutants while also having buffering effects against depression and anxiety. In fact, being around plants can help suppress our sympathetic nervous systems, thereby reducing stress.
These improvements in mental health spark a domino effect toward physical health; when the mind starts to unwind, the body obediently follows. Fascinatingly, people who spend more time around plants tend to experience improved blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, which can strengthen the immune system and serve as a barrier from pain. Studies have revealed that patients recovering from major illnesses required less medication and spent fewer days in the hospital when they were exposed to plants and greenery.
In addition to mental and physical health, plants also play a role in optimizing our cognitive health. People who spend more time around plants tend to recover from mental fatigue quicker, report sharper focus, experience improvements to memory, and display more creativity. Research has shown that dementia patients who spent time in a garden performed measurably better on cognitive tasks and short-term memory assessments. It seems, then, that plants give us clarity in our thoughts through the pathway of composure in the mind and relaxation of the body.
Plants promote every aspect of our functioning. With our urban and technological society in mind, it’s important to reconnect with our roots: the earth that houses us and the natural world that supports us. With that connection comes a host of benefits to our wellbeing. That’s why we’ve created our own greenhouse inside our studio walls — to remind you that the world around you has unlimited offerings and to allow you to begin your journey of healing and wellness as soon as you walk through our door.
