Introduce Plants Into Your Workplace & Feel The Health Benefits

Do you ever feel fatigued at work?

Do you suffer from dry skin or a hoarse cough while in the office?

I think youll be surprised at how many of you will find yourselves nodding at this point.

Even here at HSI headquarters, we regularly feel the need to rehydrate and apply lip balm. So heres a couple of tips on how you can improve your mood and health in general.

Plants can help to purify the air

Researchers at the Agricultural University of Norway, led by Dr Tove Fjeld, wanted to determine the effect of common house plants on the health and symptoms of discomfort among office workers. The cross-over study was conducted in two parts, one period with plants in the office, and one period without plants.

The 51 healthy participants were given a questionnaire made up of 12 questions relating to their neuropsychological, mucous membrane, and skin symptoms. And guess what they discovered?

The researchers found that overall, the symptoms experienced by the participants were 23% lower in the period they had plants in their offices, compared to the control period. In the offices containing plants, coughing was reduced by 37%, and complaints of fatigue were reduced by 30%. Similarly, exposure to plants decreased the incidence of dry/hoarse throats, and dry/itching facial skin by approximately 23%. A significant reduction was noted by the researchers in neuropsychological and mucous membrane symptoms.

The conclusion of this study suggests that introducing plants into your office environment could reduce feelings of discomfort and improve health.

This is great news for employers! Get plants in your office and your employees should take fewer sick days. According to a report by the Benenden Healthcare Society, British workers have taken 78 million sick days in the past year. You can imagine how many millions of pounds in lost revenue that equates to?

Getting back to nature

For me, there is nothing more relaxing than taking a leisurely stroll in a forest, listening to the sounds of wildlife and breathing in the fresh air.

Part of the reason we feel better when we are surrounded by plants could be because they have the ability to absorb harmful contaminants from the air. In todays modern environments we are frequently exposed to toxins such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde gas is given off by some building materials and fabrics and even cigarettes! This gas can trigger respiratory disorders and allergies.

NASA scientists have also shown interest in the air cleaning qualities of foliage plants for use on future space stations. In 1982, a study was carried out to test the effectiveness of common house plants Golden pothos (Scindapsus aureus), Nephthytis (Syngonium podophyllum) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) for air purification.

The plants were placed in a temperature regulated glass chamber fitted with device for monitoring the formaldehyde in the air. At the end of the experiment the NASA scientists found that all three plants were effective in reducing formaldehyde levels in the chamber.

So it makes sense to have one of natures air purifiers in your office, rather than relying on the air conditioning system which can sometimes make you feel even worse. Having a plant on your desk is also a good excuse to take a 5 minute break to look after it. You can stretch your legs and give your eyes a rest all in the name of plant care.

So which plants should you choose? Well heres a list of plants that have been shown to improve air quality:

* Spider plants
* Ferns
* English ivy
* Dracaena
* Peace lily
* Weeping fig
* Chrysanthemums

So why not bring a pot plant in to work and conduct your own experiment? See if it has any effect on your mood or feelings of well being. At the very least it will look pretty but Im sure it will do much more than that.

House plants will also purify the air in your home environment, making it a healthier place to live in.