We all know, intuitively, that we “feel better” when in nature, surrounded by plants and trees. We have likely never really known the how or why, of it, though. Until now! Extensive surveys of recent research give us valuable insights into these fundamental questions.
The short answers: (1) simply having plants in our indoor environments boosts our mood, reduces negative emotions (anger, fear, sadness, resentment), improves the clarity and speed of our thinking, and alleviates physical pain; (2) indoor plants provide visual cues that suppress the production and release of stress-inducing cortisol, leading to these benefits to our physical and emotional health. Read on!
Han, K.-T., & Ruan, L.-W. (2019). Effects of Indoor Plants on Self-Reported Perceptions: A Systemic Review. Sustainability, 11(16), 4506. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11164506
Moslehian, S., Roös, P. B., Gaekwad, J. S., & Van Galen, L. (2023). Potential risks and beneficial impacts of using indoor plants in the biophilic design of healthcare facilities: A scoping review. Building and Environment, 233: 110057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110057
